In school, I learnt that Potassium is the most reactive element in the reactivity series. I thought it was Francium?

In school, I learnt that Potassium is the most reactive element in the reactivity series. In the periodic table, the further you go down the more reactive the elemnt is. If this is true, then shouldn't francium be the most reactive metal? Or rubidium, or caesium? I am very confused.




Francium is the most reactive. It cannot be pure because it can react with almost everything. I think you are using Potassium because it is the most reactive element used in most schools. Caesium and rubidium are more reactive than Potassium, but francium is even more reactive. You cannot legally use it withoutr approval from the government.


Potassium is not as dangerous as Caesium and rubidium, but you are allowed to witness it in schools with strict scientific control


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Reactivity as a metal(i.e, electropositivity) DOES increase down a group and rubidium, francium etc are more reactive.


However,the reactivity series taught in school is meant to be a stepping stone towards the rest of the reactivity series, and understanding the trends that control them. Pottassium is one of the more common metals used in chemistry and is considerably reactive, comparing to iron or copper. In many cases, the reactivity is series is not meant to be all encompassing, but a quick trick to the most common metals used.


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