[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/reactivity/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [R](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/r/) / reactivity

# reactivity

noun (reactivity, uncountable)

«reactivity» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science, chemistry) How easily and how strongly a substance takes part in chemical reactions: «Potassium has high reactivity.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#m1)
2. (science, psychology) How strongly a person or body reacts to something, such as stress or an allergy trigger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons metals are put in a «reactivity series» from most reactive (potassium, sodium) to least (gold, platinum); this explains why gold does not rust and why sodium fizzes in water. Phrases: «reactivity series», «high reactivity», «low reactivity».

### Examples

- Potassium is at the top of the reactivity series. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x1)
- Gold has very low reactivity, so it stays shiny for centuries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x2)
- We tested the reactivity of metals in acid. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x3)
- Sodium's high reactivity makes it fizz and dart about on water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x4)
- Iron's reactivity with water and air makes it rust. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x5)
- Some children have high reactivity to pollen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective: reactive; opposite: unreactive (inert). A handy reactivity order: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, (carbon), zinc, iron, (hydrogen), copper, silver, gold. Safety: very reactive metals are handled only by teachers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «reactivity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reactivity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«reactivity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reactivity.html) on Mova free.