Which metal is more reactive, silver or gold?

• A. Silver
• B. Gold
• C. Platinum
• D. Copper

Answer: (A)

This question tests how to compare metal reactivity using how easily a metal loses electrons in solutions. A metal that is more reactive is more willing to oxidize, which means it has a greater tendency to lose electrons. In practice, metals with more positive standard reduction potentials are less reactive because they are harder to oxidize; metals with less positive (or more negative) reduction potentials are more easily oxidized and thus more reactive.

For silver and gold, the silver half-reaction is Ag+ + e− → Ag with a standard reduction potential of about +0.80 V, while gold from its common oxidation state has a much more positive potential ( Au3+ + 3e− → Au is around +1.50 V). The larger positive value for gold means it is less readily oxidized than silver. Therefore, silver is more reactive than gold.

In everyday terms, gold resists chemical attack, while silver tarnishes more readily by reacting with sulfur compounds, aligning with silver’s higher reactivity.