Question

What is the metal activity series used for?

Answer 1

The activity series allows us to predict whether a metal displacement reaction will occur.

You can read about the metal activity series at

http://socratic.org/questions/what-are-metal-activity-series

We can use the series to predict whether a metal displacement reaction will occur.

For example, zinc is above copper in the series. We predict that placing a strip of zinc metal in a copper(II) sulfate solution will produce metallic copper and zinc sulfate.

Copper is below zinc in the series. We predict that a strip of copper placed into a zinc sulfate solution will not produce a reaction.