# A student tests three metals — magnesium, copper, and tin — by placing each one separately into dilute hydrochloric acid. Magnesium reacts vigorously, tin reacts slowly, and copper shows no reaction. Describe what these observations tell us about the relative positions of these three metals in the reactivity series, and explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620) — 9.4 Reactivity series · Describe and Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Magnesium is more reactive than tin / magnesium is above tin in the reactivity series
2. Tin is more reactive than copper / tin is above copper in the reactivity series
3. The order (from most to least reactive) is magnesium, tin, copper / correct relative order stated
4. Copper cannot displace / react with hydrogen because copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series / copper is less reactive than hydrogen

## Key terms

- [reactivity series](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/reactivity-series)
- [dilute hydrochloric acid](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/dilute-hydrochloric-acid)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe and Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-tests-three-metals-81ce9f10) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.