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Metals and halogens are arranged in the table below from MOST ACTIVE at the top to LEAST ACTIVE at the bottom. Less reactive elements prefer to be in their elemental (uncharged) form. For single replacement reactions where metals exchange places, if a less reactive metal is already by itself in its elemental form, no exchange reaction will occur. The same is true for halogens.

Activity of Metals	Activity of Halogens
Li React with cold water and acids, K replacing hydrogen. Ca React with oxygen, forming oxides. Na Mg	F₂ Cl₂ Br₂ I₂
Al React with hot water and acids, Mn replacing hydrogen. Zn React with oxygen, forming oxides. Fe Cd
Ni Do not react with water. Sn React with acids, replacing hydrogen. Pb React with oxygen, forming oxides.
H₂ React with oxygen, forming oxides. Cu Hg
Ag Fairly unreactive, forming oxides only Pt indirectly. Au