In short
The reactivity series is a list of metals in order of how readily they react, with the most reactive at the top. A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive one from its compounds.
The usual order from most to least reactive is potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, lead, (hydrogen), copper, silver, gold. Metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids to give hydrogen gas. Silver does not react with water, because it is low in the series. The series also decides how a metal is extracted: reactive ones by electrolysis, and less reactive ones by heating with carbon.
Zinc added to copper sulfate solution displaces copper: . Copper added to zinc sulfate does nothing.
Also searched as: silver reacts with water.
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