The electrochemical series:

When metals react chemically, their atoms tend to be oxidised, forming positive ions. Some metal atoms, such as the atoms of alkali metals, have a greater tendency to lose electrons than others, such as transition metal atoms. Therefore, alkali metal atoms are more reactive. In the electrochemical series the metals are arranged in order of tendency to be oxidised.

Potassium (Poor)
Calcium (Concentration)
Sodium (Soon)
Magnesium (Means)
Aluminium (A)
Zinc (Zero)
Iron (In)
Tin (The)
Hydrogen (Higher)
Lead (Leaving)
Copper (Cert)

A metal will displace a less reactive metal from a solution of its salt. The more reactive metal is oxidised and the less reactive metal is reduced. e.g. reaction of zinc with acidified copper sulfate and magnesium with copper sulfate.

An application of this type of reaction is the use of a less valuable metal, such as scrap iron, to displace a more valuable and less reactive metal, such as copper from a solution of its salts.

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Leaving Certificate Chemistry (Oxidation and Reduction) Notiz am Oxidation and Reduction, erstellt von eimearkelly3 am 15/07/2013.