Zinc and silver are both metals that belong to the same group of elements in the periodic table. However, they exhibit different levels of reactivity due to their electronic configuration and atomic structure. In this article, we will compare the reactivity of zinc and silver and explain the reasons for their differences.



Zinc is a moderately reactive metal that readily reacts with acids and oxygen to form zinc oxide. Some of the key properties of zinc that contribute to its reactivity are:

• Low ionization energy: Zinc has a low ionization energy, which means that it requires little energy to lose its valence electrons and form positive ions.


• Electropositive nature: Zinc is an electropositive metal, which means that it readily donates its valence electrons to other elements to form chemical bonds.


• Stable oxide formation: Zinc oxide is a stable compound that forms a protective layer on the surface of zinc, preventing further reactions.

Silver is a noble metal that exhibits low reactivity towards most chemicals. Some of the key properties of silver that contribute to its low reactivity are:

• High ionization energy: Silver has a high ionization energy, which means that it requires a significant amount of energy to lose its valence electrons and form positive ions.


• Noble nature: Silver is a noble metal that does not readily react with other elements or compounds.


• Less stable oxide formation: Silver oxide is less stable than zinc oxide and readily decomposes into silver and oxygen.

In conclusion, zinc is more reactive than silver due to its lower ionization energy, electropositive nature, and stable oxide formation. On the other hand, silver is a noble metal that exhibits low reactivity due to its high ionization energy, noble nature, and less stable oxide formation. The differences in their reactivity make them suitable for different applications in various industries.

There is a table........ for more reactive metals to less reactive .... ..........Potassium, Sodium, calcium, Magnesium,Aluminium,Zinc,Iron,Lead,Hydrogen,Copper,Silver,Gold,Platinum etc.............. this is order for increasing to descresing reactive metals. this will help u .