Q1 The higher the metal in the series, the more acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite it is i.e. the faster and more exothermic the reaction. It also means that the acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite reaction becomes more difficult. This also means the more reactive the metal, the more difficult it is to acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite it from its ore. The less reactive the metal, the less it is acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite with oxygen and water.

Q2 A metal in the series, can acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite any metal below it in the series, from the less acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite metal's oxide, chloride or sulphate compound. For example ...
(i) on heating the mixture of magnesium powder and black copper(II) oxide, acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite coloured magnesium oxide is formed with brown bits of acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite: acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite + CuO => acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite + Cu
(ii) adding magnesium to blue copper(II) sulphate solution, the acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite colour fades as colourless acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite is formed and brown bits of copper metal form a precipitate
Mg + CuSO4 => acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite + acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite

Q3 Some general word equations where the metal does react are listed below ...
(a) metal + cold water => acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite + hydrogen (for metals above aluminium)
(b) heated metal + steam => metal oxide + acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite (for metals above tin Sn)
(c) metal + acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite => metal acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite + acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite (if the metal is at least as reactive as lead)
Note: Hydrochloric acid makes a metal acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite AND acidbluechloridecoppercorrodedCudisplaceextracthydrogenhydroxidemagnesiummetalMgMgOMgSO4reactivereversesaltsulphatesulphuricwhite acid makes a metal sulphate.