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The Reactivity Series

The Reaction of Metals with Air (Oxygen).

Potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium and magnesium
react with oxygen and burn in air.
See the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals.

Metals in the reactivity series from aluminium to copper
react with oxygen in the air to form the metal oxide.
Aluminium is the fastest and copper is the slowest of the six.

Aluminium reacts quickly to form a surface layer
of aluminium oxide.

aluminium + oxygen        aluminium oxide.
4Al_(s)    +    3O_2(g)              2Al₂O_3(s)

Zinc reacts fairly quickly to form zinc oxide.

zinc   +   oxygen             zinc oxide.
2Zn_(s)    +    O_2(g)              2ZnO_(s)

Iron reacts slowly at room temperature but quickly if it is heated.

iron    +   oxygen                iron(III) oxide - see rusting.
4Fe_(s)    +  3O_2(g)                   2Fe₂O_3(s)                           

Metals below iron react with oxygen when they are heated in air.

tin   +   oxygen             tin(II) oxide.
2Sn_(s)   +   O_2(g)                  2SnO_(s)

lead   +   oxygen         lead(II) oxide.
2Pb_(s)    +    O_2(g)                2PbO_(s)

copper   +   oxygen         copper(II) oxide.
2Cu_(s)    +    O_2(g)                2CuO_(s)

Silver, gold and platinum do not react with oxygen in the air.

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