Why are some metals more reactive than others?
Certain metals like to bond with other elements or chemicals. This is determined by a particular metal’s charge. Opposite charges attract because elements with opposite charges (like +3 and -3) want to trade electrons with each other. In doing so, they can be involved in a violent reaction which can release lots of heat. For example, the metal zinc and the nonmetal sulfur have opposite charges (+2 and -2) and when they are mixed together into a homogeneous mixture and ignited, a quick and violent reaction occurs which produces a significant amount of heat and flame.
