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Nonmetals also have high electron affinity. This means that it is energetically favorable to add an electron to a nonmetal. So, nonmetals can be easily reduced. Metals tend to have low electron affinity so it is more difficult to add electrons (or reduce them). In short: Metals have low ionization energies and low electron affinities so they are readily oxidized. Nonmetals have high ionization energies and high electron affinities so they are readily reduced.
For example in the table above it should be appreciated that magnesium will react with copper oxide reducing it to copper metal. Any metal that is more reactive will react with compounds of less reactive metals. Reactivity series involving non-metals. Metals react by losing electrons-they are reducing agents.Non-metals react by gaining electrons-they are oxidising agents.In the same way that metals can be ordered in terms of reducing strength, the non-metals can be ordered in terms of their oxidising strength.eactivity series involving non-metals. Metals react by losing electrons-they are reducing agents. Non-metals react by gaining electrons-they are oxidising agents. In the same way that metals can be ordered in terms of reducing strength, the non-metals can be ordered in terms of their oxidising strength.