Question map
Which one of the following is the correct reactivity series with water?
Explanation
The reactivity series of metals determines their ability to react with water and displace other metals. According to the established series, Zinc is more reactive than Iron, which is more reactive than Lead, and Copper is the least reactive among them. Specifically, Zinc and Iron do not react with cold water but can react with steam (water vapour) to form metal oxides and hydrogen gas. In contrast, Lead and Copper are considered unreactive with water in any form. Displacement reactions further confirm this order; for instance, Zinc can displace Lead from its salt solution because it is higher in the series, and Iron can displace Copper from copper sulfate because it is more reactive than Copper. Therefore, the correct descending order of reactivity is Zinc > Iron > Lead > Copper.