Based on the activity series, rank the following metals from most reactive (1) to least reactive (3): tantalum, niobium, dubnium.

• A. 1. tantalum, 2. niobium, 3. dubnium
• B. 1. dubnium, 2. niobium, 3. tantalum
• C. 1. niobium, 2. tantalum, 3. dubnium
• D. 1. dubnium, 2. tantalum, 3. niobium

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the activity series is a list of metals ranked by their reactivity, typically based on their tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions.
2. Identify the metals in question: tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), and dubnium (Db). Note that tantalum and niobium are transition metals commonly found in the periodic table, while dubnium is a synthetic, highly unstable element with limited experimental data.
3. Recall that the activity series is generally determined from experimental observations such as reaction with water, acids, or displacement reactions. Since dubnium is synthetic and unstable, its reactivity is less well-known and often considered lower or less certain compared to naturally occurring metals.
4. Compare the known chemical properties of niobium and tantalum, which are in the same group (Group 5) of the periodic table. Niobium is typically more reactive than tantalum due to its slightly lower atomic number and different electron configurations affecting its ionization energy.
5. Rank the metals from most reactive to least reactive based on the above reasoning: niobium (most reactive), tantalum (moderately reactive), and dubnium (least reactive or uncertain reactivity).