[Cpt. Cogsworth]

I am doing an EEI on metal reactivity test and some things don't quite add up.

In the experiment, a metal is covered with a solution containing another metal as a cation. If the two react, the solitary metal is more reactive. Simple stuff.

However, Iron (II) Sulphate reacted with Magnesium Chloride but Magnesium is more reactive than Iron. Similarly, Zinc did not react with Iron (II) Sulphate but Iron doesn't react with Zinc Chloride; and Lead didn't react with Copper (II) Chloride but Copper did not react with Lead Nitrate. To me this seems like a contradiction, since they can't both be less reactiv than the other. My question is: why is this so.

Any answers or assistance will be most welcome.

Thank you in advance,

Cpt. Cogsworth

[Rabn]

I would suggest you re-evaluate your approach.  Instead of looking at the reactivity of the metals, what other properties of the metals are relevant in this situation?