SCH3U
Developing an Activity Series
Name: ______________________
Curriculum Expectations
Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication

C2.10 – Plan and conduct and inquiry to demonstrate a single-displacement
reaction, using elements from the metal activity series.
Introduction (Purpose)
An activity series is a list of elements arranged in order of their reactivity. This relative order is
based on experimental evidence gathered as a result of performing a series of single-displacement
reactions.
In this lab, your task is to develop an activity series based on your experimental observations. You
will test two elements at a time (one as an element and one as a compound in solution) in order to
determine which displaces which from a compound. If an element displaces another element from
a compound, it is said to be more reactive and, therefore, it should be placed higher in the activity
series.
You will be given five (5) metals, five (5) solutions of aqueous ionic compounds and dilute
hydrochloric acid to build your activity series. In the interest of being environmentally responsible,
you will only be given small amounts of both the metals and solutions.
Safety
Throughout the entire lab, you must wear eye protection. Additionally, some of the solutions are
slightly corrosive and so a reasonable amount of caution must be taken when handling any of the
materials.
Materials




Microtray (for testing)
Steel Wool and/or Sandpaper (to remove any oxides from the surfaces of the
metals)
Metals: Iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Copper, and Tin
Solutions: Copper (II) Sulphate, Iron (II) Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Magnesium
Nitrate, Tin (IV) Chloride, and dilute HCl(aq)
As a part of this lab, you will be responsible for completing a report that includes a question, a
hypothesis, an experimental design, a procedure, observations, an analysis, and an
evaluation. Your mark will be determined based on the attached rubric.
Part One
Question
a)
What are you attempting to answer during this investigation?
Hypothesis
a)
Based on the metals and solutions you are given (and on what you already know about the periodic table),
what is your hypothesis?
Experimental Design
Many pairs of metals will be tested (one as an element, one as a compound in solution) to see which is displaced (i.e.,
is less reactive)
a)
Using the materials provided, plan an investigation using pairs of elements and solutions that will help you to
prove (or disprove) your hypothesis.
Procedure
a)
Using information from your experimental design, write down all of the steps needed to complete your
experiment
(This first section is to be completed before you begin the lab. When you are finished, please show
it to Mr. Oest or Mr. Oldridge for approval)
Part Two
Observations
a)
When you are conducting the various tests, indicate any qualitative observations that you think are
appropriate.
Analysis
a)
b)
c)
Where did your reactions occur? In each case, what is your evidence? What does a reaction suggest?
Where did reactions not occur? What does this suggest?
Based on your observations, create an activity series by ranking the metals you tested in order of reactivity.
Evaluation
a)
b)
c)
Evaluate your experimental design. Were there any problems in your procedure? What could you improve for
next time?
Did you prove or disprove your hypothesis?
Were you able to answer your original question?
Synthesis
a)
Write word and balanced chemical equations for two of the reactions you observed. Be sure to indicate the
states of all reactants and products.
SCH3U – Activity Series Lab Rubric
Criteria
Title
Names: __________________________
Below Level 1
Level 1
Level 2
No title or title is
inappropriate
0
Title is present but
off topic, the date is
missing, some
names missing
Some sort of title
present, date and
names are included
0.5
Level 3
Level 4
Appropriate title,
date and names
included
Attractive,
descriptive title, date
and lab team
members are
included.
1
Question is clearly
posed and is related
to the purpose
Question is clearly
posed and is
strongly related to
the purpose
1
Hypothesis is
realistic and based
on some reasoning
and/or research
1.5
Insightful hypothesis
that is based on
reasoning and/or
research
2
The design is
complete and
addresses the
question
3
The design is
excellent and fully
addresses the
question
4
The procedure is
described in great
detail and the steps
are numbered in
order
4
Part 1
Question
No question is
posed or it is
inappropriate
0
Question is
attempted but it is
not related to the
purpose
Hypothesis
No hypothesis is
made or it is
inappropriate
0
Hypothesis is
attempted but weak
0.5
Experimental
Design
No design is
included or it is
inappropriate
0
The design is
incomplete and fails
to address the
question
1
Procedure
No procedure is
described or it is
inappropriate
0
The procedure is
unclear and there
appears to be little
order
1
Question is posed
and is loosely
related to the
purpose
0.5
Hypothesis is
credible but is
based on little
reasoning and/or
research
1
The design is
adequate but does
not fully address the
question
2
The procedure is
given but the order
is not clear
2
The procedure is
described and the
steps are numbered
and in order
3
Part 2
No observations are
recorded or they are
inappropriate
0
Observations are
made but they are
poorly organized
1
Observations are
made and they are
organized
2
Quality observations
are made and they
are organized in a
clear fashion
3
Analysis
No analysis is
performed
0
Questions are not
properly answered
and no conclusions
are drawn
2
Observations are
used to answer
questions and
conclusions are
drawn
4
Observations are
interpreted to
answer questions
and conclusions are
drawn
6
Evaluation
No evaluation is
completed or it is
inappropriate
0
Little thought is
shown and there is
no mention of
hypothesis
1
Some thought is
shown and the
hypothesis is
mentioned
2
Experimental design
is judged and the
hypothesis is
mentioned and
explained
3
Synthesis
Equations are not
included
0
Equations are
present but with
multiple errors
1
Equations have
some errors
2
Equations have one
or two errors
3
Observations
Excellent qualitative
observations are
made that are
clearly organized
4
Observations are
explained within the
answers to
questions and
sound conclusions
are drawn
8
Experimental design
is critiqued and the
hypothesis is
thoughtfully
evaluated
4
Equations are
present with no
errors
4
Overall Total - /32