Tasks:
1. In groups of 3 choose one metal salt solution and check if the different metals
react with the metal ions in your metal salt solution, Add your observations and
the observations of the other groups to the following table.
Metal
Iron (Fe)
Copper (Cu)
Tin (Sn)
Silver (Ag)
Zinc (Zn)
Metal salt
solution
iron sulfate
(FeS0)
copper sulfate(!)
(CusO)
tin sulfate
(SnS0)
silver nitrate ()
(AgNO ))_
zinc sulfate
(ZnsO)
NO3*) are also spectator ions
2. If a reaction took place write down balanced equations with half equations.
3. Use your results to place the metals in the reactivity series.
4. Some metals or metal salt solutions are too toxic to work with them here in the
chemistry lab. Use the results of the following reactions to place these metals in
the reactivity series as well.
a) Nickel sulfate (NiSO,) reacts with iron and zinc. There is no reaction with
tin or lead (Pb/ Blei).
b) Lead sulfate (PbS04) reacts with tin. There is no reaction with silver.
5. Copper sulfate solution and silver nitrate solution are really harmful for the
environment. They have to be collected in special containers. Special companies
dispose them, which is very expensive. Use the reactivity series to find a
cheaper way to dispose them by turning them into harmless solutions.
EXTRA:
Placing magnesium in the reactivity series: Put some magnesium powder in a test
tube filled with water and.in a test tube filled with copper sulfate solution
(PROTECTIVE GLASSES!). Can your observations be used to place magnesium in
the reactivity series? Could you think of another method?
Explain
Chemistry 9
reactivity series of metals
Experiment: The reaction between copper and iron
Materials:_iron nail, copper foil, iron sulfate solution, copper sulfate solution
Set-up/ procedure:
copper sulfate
iron sulfate solution
solution
(Felaq),So2 (ag)*)
(Cu (aqg),so,Pag)
iron nail
copper foil
grey)Fe
(orange metal)
testtube1
test tube 2
*sulfate
ions
spectator ions
Observation:
Test tube
1:
The iron nail is coated with
orange layer.
The blue copper sulfate solution has turned
Test tube 2:
an
.
colorless.
Results:
Balanced
equations (with
half
equations):
The more reactive metal (
) displaces the less reactive metal (
from solution.
Reactivity series of metals (
The reactivity series of metals is a series
in which metals are placed in order of their
reactivity from highest to lowest.