bPurpose: The purpose of this activity is to determine which metals are most reactive and to create an order from

most reactive to least reactive. Part I: Reactions with Aqueous Solutions Materials: Metals: Copper Lead Zinc Magnesium Silver Calcium

Solutions: Copper (II) sulfate Silver nitrate Lead (II) nitrate Zinc sulfate Magnesium nitrate

Procedures 1. Using a well plate and the chemical given, determine which reactions will occur between the metals and the solutions. 2. Add to each of the wells a small piece of the appropriate metal, which has first been cleaned with sand paper. Note: Your teacher will provide the calcium when you are ready for it. 3. Create a data table to record your observations of before and after reactions. 4. Observe and record any evidence of a replacement reaction (i.e. a thin coating appears on the surface of the metal) occurring each of the test tubes. If no change is visible within five minutes, record this as no reaction 5.

Cu (copper)

Zn (Zinc)

Pb (lead)

Ag (Silver)

Mg (Magnesium)

AgNo3 change (Silver Nitrate) color, got moldy, new solution formed ZnSO4 no (Zinc Sulfate) change Lead (II) Nitrate

got darker, White solid new dark formed on top silver solid of the lead forms

no change Reaction occurred and solid forming around Mg

no change

no change

no change

bubbles

no got darker, got darker solid change solid forming forms no change no change

no change

darkened a lot

Mg (NO3)2 no (Magnesium change Nitrate) CuSO4 No (Copper change Sulfate)

no change

No change

got darker, bubbling

no change

no change bubbling and darker

Part II: Reactions with Acids Materials: Metals: Copper Magnesium Zinc Silver Lead Calcium

Solution: hydrochloric acid

Procedures: 1. Determine where H+ should be placed on an activity series by comparing the relative amount of bubbling when added to metals. 2. Create a data table and record your results.

Metal + Hydrochloric Acid Copper Silver Lead Zinc Magnesium Discussion Questions

Reaction None None None None Bubbles

From Part I: Which of the metals gave (Use the answers from above to list the five metals in order of decreasing reactivity.) a.) four reactions - Magnesium b.) three reactions - Zinc c.) two reactions - Lead d.) one reaction - Copper e.) no reaction - Silver

From Part II: Describe the order of metals from those that bubble most to those that bubble least, or not at all. List the five metals in decreasing order of reactivity. Place hydrogen into the list. Magnesium, Hydrogen, all other metals had no reaction Write net ionic equations for all the reactions that occurred: Magnesium: Mg2+ + Cl -> 2MgCl2 For each of the reactions, determine which substances has been oxidized and which one has been reduced as well as which is the oxidizing agent and which is the reducing agent. Magnesium: Oxidized: Mg (lost 2 electrons) Reduced: H (gained 1 electron) Hydrogen is the oxidizing agent and magnesium is the reducing agent. A metal was found in the lab that was missing its labeling tape. In order to determine the identity of the metal several reactions were performed. When the metal was placed in hydrochloric acid, it bubbled. No reaction was noticed when placed in a solution of calcium nitrate. A reaction was observed when placed in a solution of zinc chloride. What could the metal possibly be? What further test could you run to determine the identity of the metal? The metal is magnesium because it reacts with hydrogen and zinc but it does not react with nitrate. A test you could run to determine the identity of the metal is to test to see if the metal reacts with calcium (a metal more reactive than magnesium) and with aluminum (a metal less reactive than magnesium). If the metal reacts with calcium but does not with aluminum, the metal is most likely magnesium. Conclusion: This lab shows different reactions that occur (or do not occur) depending on their order of reactivity.