Activity Series of Metals

The activity series lists metals and hydrogen in order of reactivity.          
  • Hydrogen is not considered a metallic element although it's listed in Group I by virtue of it ns1  electron shell  configuration           
  • Any element in the series will displace ions of an element below it from an aqueous solution.
These metals displace hydrogen from water:
  • Lithium
  • Potassium
  • Barium
  • Calcium
  • Sodium
  • Lead will displace hydrogen from an acid, while copper does not.                    
  • Metals whuch are positioned very high in the activity series are very reactive and will displace hydrogen from both water and an acid. 
These metals displace hydrogen from acids:
  • Magnesium
  • Aluminum
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Nickel
  • Tin
  • Lead

These metals do not displace hydrogen from acids or water:

  • Hydrogen
  • Copper
  • Mercury
  • Silver
  • Gold