What is Reactivity (chemistry)?
[[File:Magnesium.jpg|thumb|Magnesium is highly reactive.]] '''Reactivity''' is a [[Measurement|measure]] of how much a [[Chemical substance|substance]] tends to [[chemical reaction|react]] with other things.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/applychem/reactivity.html|title=Chemical Reactivity|publisher=University of Waterloo|accessdate=October 20, 2011|archive-date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121044413/http://science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/applychem/reactivity.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some substances are more reactive, and others are less reactive. Reactivity is set by several factors: * the range of [[wikt:circumstances|circumstances]] (conditions that include [[temperature]], [[pressure]], or presence of [[catalyst]]s) in which the substance reacts, * the range of substances that will react with it, * the [[equilibrium]] point of the reaction (that is, the extent to which all of it reacts), or * the speed of the reaction. Reactivity involves both the [[thermodynamics]] and [[chemical kinetics|kinetics]] of the particular [[chemical reaction]]. A reaction will be more reactive if the total energy of the products is less than the total energy of the [[reactant]]s. A reaction will be more reactive if the energy of its transition is low. [[Lithium]] reacts with water and air. [[Gold]] does not react with water or air. Gold is nonreactive, thus low on the [[reactivity series]]. Lithium is reactive. There are several ways to measure reactivity. Some substances are [[reducing agent]]s, and others can be [[oxidizing agent]]s. Some absorb water easily. Some break down easily. ==References== <references/> ==Related pages== *[[Stereochemistry]] {{chem-stub}} [[Category:Chemistry]]