Metal Displacement
Aim: to compare reactivities of metals through displacement reactions.
Apparatus:
Materials:
Diagram:
Method:
1. Using a dropping pipette, put a little of the zinc sulfate solution in the
depressions in the spotting tile. Label this row with the name of the solution.
Rinse the pipette well with water afterwards.
2. Repeat the procedure with a different salt solution, rinsing the pipette when
you change solution.
3. Put a piece of each metal in each of the solutions.
4. Over the next few minutes observe which mixtures have reacted and which have
not.
Precautions:
Results:
Metal
Zinc sulfate
Magnesium
sulfate
Copper(II)
nitrate
Iron(III)nitrate
Zinc
Magnesium
Copper
Iron
Discussion:
•
Place the metals Mg, Cu, Zn and Fe in order of reactivity using the results
obtained from your experiment.
•
The reactivity series also controls the reactivity of these metals with acids.
Which metals from those used in the experiment would react with hydrochloric
acid? Which metals would not react with hydrochloric acid? And why?
•
The reactivity series also determines the extraction of metals. Use the
reactivity series you have obtained, and state which method of extraction would
be used for every metal.
•
How can the method be improved?