Warm Up- Separate piece of
paper…NOT IN CB!!
Reactivity Lab
Purpose- To look at the reactivity of different
metals and determine an activity series.
Hypothesis
Think about the number of valence electrons
in an atom….Which metals do you think are
most reactive?
Metals with ____________ valence
electrons will have _____________
reactivity, because……
How does it work?
A reaction takes place when electrons
move. The more reactive atom gives its
electrons to the less reactive atom and
“replaces” it in the compound.
Na is more active than Li
Na + LiCl
→
Li + NaCl
Materials List
As you do the lab, make a complete list of
the materials that you are using…
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
Place metals in the correct well.
Add the correct solution using the plastic
pipettes (be careful!)
Make observations for any well that
seems to react. Record color changes,
formation of new substances,
bubbles…etc.
Setting up your well plate
Copy this table onto your lab
1
2
3
4
5
6
A Mg Mg Fe Mg Mg Mg
B Fe Fe Zn Zn Fe Fe
C Zn Cu Cu Cu Zn Zn
D Pb Pb Pb Pb Cu Cu
Make another table to record
observations…
1
2
3
4
5
6
A
B
C
D
Adding the Solutions
Column 1- Cu(NO3)2
Column 2- Zn(NO3)2
Column 3- Mg(NO3)2
Column 4- Fe(NO3)2
Column 5- Pb(NO3)2
Column 1- Ag(NO3)2
Make a table to record
your observations!
1A….turned green
2B… no reaction
Be very detailed in your
descriptions.
What did you see?
Setting up your well plate
Copy this table onto your lab
1
2
3
4
5
6
Mg
Mg
Fe
Mg
Mg
Mg
A
B
Fe
Fe
Zn
Zn
Fe
Fe
C
Zn
Cu
Cu
Cu
Zn
Zn
D
Pb
Pb
Pb
Pb
Cu
Cu
Here are my results
A
B
C
D
1
Y
Y
Y
Y
2
Y
N
N
N
3
Y
Y
N
N
4
Y
Y
Y
N
5
Y
Y
Y
N
6
Y
Y
Y
Y
Valence Electrons
Mg- 2
Zn- 2
Cu- 2
Fe- 2
Pb- 2
Ag- 2
When you look at the number of
valence electrons, you notice that
all the metals we used all the same
number….
So it must have more to do with
where the electrons are on the
atom…
Trend in Reactivity
Reactivity increases down a group- the electrons
are farther away from the nucleus.
Look at Bohr models for Li and K
Reactivity decreases from left to right across the
PT because the orbitals are getting closer to being
complete…
Bohr model for Li and K
Concluding Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
What evidence did you look for to determine if a
reaction occurred?
Which were the most reactive metals? Why?
Which were the least reactive metals? Why?
List the metals from least reactive to most
reactive.
Write a nice paragraph that answers all the
questions. Use complete sentenses.Don’t
use personal pronouns.