SCH 3U1
PERIODIC TRENDS IN METALS DEMO / LAB
Purpose:
To rank metals (listed in the Materials section) from most reactive to
least reactive.
Hypothesis:
Write one here before doing the lab.
Materials:
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Copper
Aluminum
Water
0.50 mol/L HCl
Scoopula
600 mL Beakers (x3)
Test tubes (x6)
Test tube rack
Safety Considerations:
Lithium, sodium & potassium may burn in water. Only the teacher should handle these
metals.
HCl is an irritant. Report any spills to your teacher. Wash with cold water if skin or
clothing come in contact with the HCl.
Dispose of the contents of the reaction in the waste containers indicated by the teacher.
(Do not pour down the drain!)
Procedure:
PART 1: TEACHER DEMO (Lithium, Sodium & Potassium)
Your teacher will be adding a small sample of each of the metals (one at a time, in
separate beakers) to 100 mL of water in a 600 mL beaker.
Record observations (What happened? How long did the reaction take? Etc.)
PART 2: YOU DO IT
(Magnesium, Copper & Aluminum)
1. Pour HCl to a depth of about 1 cm into three separate test tubes. Label the test
tubes: magnesium, copper, aluminum.
2. Add a single sample of each of the metals to its own test tube.
3. Carefully observe any reaction occurring in each of the test tubes. After 1 minute,
record your observation.
4. Repeat steps 1 – 3, using water in three separate test tubes (instead of HCl).
Observations:
Create a data table with appropriate headings to record
observations.
Conclusion:
Write a conclusion based on the purpose of the lab & the
observations gathered. Explain your conclusion using your observations, and what you
know about trends in the periodic table (ionization energy, etc).
EVALUATION:
PRE-LAB: (As a group)
Hypothesis:
Observation Table Set-up
/1
/2
(appropriate headings; organized)
POST-LAB: (Individually)
Observation Table
/4
(all parts of table complete; observations accurate & detailed)
Conclusion
/3
(ranking of metals correct; explanation correct & detailed)
SCH 3U1
PERIODIC TRENDS IN METALS DEMO / LAB
NAME: ___________________________
PRE-LAB: (As a group)
Hypothesis:
Observation Table Set-up
/1
/2
(appropriate headings; organized)
POST-LAB: (Individually)
Observation Table
/4
(all parts of table complete; observations accurate & detailed)
Conclusion
/3
(ranking of metals correct; explanation correct & detailed)
SCH 3U1
PERIODIC TRENDS IN METALS DEMO / LAB
NAME: ___________________________
PRE-LAB: (As a group)
Hypothesis:
Observation Table Set-up
/1
/2
(appropriate headings; organized)
POST-LAB: (Individually)
Observation Table
/4
(all parts of table complete; observations accurate & detailed)
Conclusion
/3
(ranking of metals correct; explanation correct & detailed)