Question

Rank of most reactive to least reactive: Ca, Na, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe

How do these relate to their position on the periodic table?

Answer 1

Reactivity of the metals decreases as we go from the left to right of the period (atomic size decreases and it is not easy to lose the valence electrons to participate in reaction) in the periodic table and it increases as we go from top to bottom in a group ( down the group atomic radius increase and losing valence electrons becomes easy and hence more reactivity)

Given metals are Ca, Na , Mg , Cu , Zn , Fe

Most reactive will be Na (group I element) then down the period it goes to right to Ca then to Mg (group II - Ca is bigger in size than Mg in the same group) then to Fe. Between Cu and Zn , Zn is more reactive than Cu (this is an anamoly to the general prediction of the reactivity as per the atomic size from left to right of period as reactivity depends on the valence configuration and the interatomic interactions in the metal)

so order from most reactive to least reactive:

Na >Ca >Mg >Fe >Zn > Cu