# Sodium, calcium, zinc, iron and copper can all be placed in the reactivity series. Explain how displacement reactions can be used to determine the order of reactivity of two metals.

> AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.4.2 Reactions of acids · Explain · 4 marks

> A student has two metals, metal X and metal Y, and solutions of their salts. They want to find out which metal is more reactive.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound / solution
2. Place metal X into a solution of a salt of metal Y (and vice versa / repeat with metal Y in a solution of a salt of metal X)
3. Observe whether a reaction occurs — a reaction / deposit of new metal forming shows that the added metal is more reactive
4. If metal X displaces metal Y from its salt solution but metal Y does NOT displace metal X from its salt solution, then metal X is more reactive than metal Y

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/sodium-calcium-zinc-iron-and-copper-b3afe675) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.