Name:

Date of experiment: 04/02/12 Date of report: 04/03/12

Title: Oxidation Reduction Activity Series

Purpose: To determine relative oxidizing and reducing strengths of a series of metals and ions. Oxidation and reduction reaction occur simultaneously side by side. A reduction reaction occurs only if an oxidation reaction occurs and vise-versa. Electrons are given in oxidation while in reduction electrons are gained. Oxidizing agent is a chemical substance which has a large tendency to gain electrons, while reducing agent is a chemical substance causes other substances to be reduced and itself oxidized. Procedure: For this lab was used metals and substances provided in the lab oxidation-reduction pack, and some extra materials. Using the well-plate and the correct amount of drops and the right metal on the right well, to see the reaction with each different substance. Observations: This experiment required some time and patience to analyze the results. For each well required a different substance and a different metal to be inserted in the well. Different metals react faster or slower depending the substance they are added. Na2SO3 with magnesium bubbles appeared around the magnesium piece and we could predict a reaction. MgSO4 with zinc No reaction observed Zn (NO3)2 with lead and aluminum No reaction observed FeCl3 with lead and aluminum reacts with foil, the piece dissolves in the solution and the lead piece seems to be oxidizing. CuSO4 with iron the screw seems to be oxidized quickly; it changes the color of it to a pinkish tone.

Questions A. Based on your observations make an activity series of the metals used. List them in such a way that the most active metal is on the left and the least active metal is on the right. Remember, sodium and copper are metals, too. Aluminum<Iron<Copper<Sodium<Magnesium<Zinc

B. Suppose you inserted a piece of copper into a solution of nickel chloride and observed no reaction. Then if you inserted a piece of iron into the solution of nickel chloride a copper deposit formed on the bottom of the test tube. Where does nickel fit into your activity series? The nickel chloride would fit in between aluminum and Iron. The nickel chloride must be more active than copper. Otherwise the copper would replace the nickel in a reaction C. Suppose you inserted a piece of an unknown metal into a solution of zinc (II) nitrate and observed no reaction. Then if you inserted the unknown piece of the metal into the solution of iron (III) chloride a deposit formed on the bottom of the test tube. Where does the unknown metal fit into your activity series? It should go between Iron and Copper because is more reactant than magnesium.

D. The chemical reactions for the preceding question number 2 are: Cu (s) + NiCl2 (aq) no reaction Ni is giving up electrons to become an ion (Ni is oxidizing, starting the oxidation-reduction equation. Cu is being reduced (Cu is gaining the electrons). CuCl2 is technically not the correct answer since it is only the Cu that is being reduced. Fe (s) + NiCl2 (aq) 2 Ni (s) + Fe Cl2 (aq) Fe= 0 Ni= +2 --> 0 Cl= -1 Fe= +2 Iron is oxidized and Ni is reduced

E. For the second reaction above identify:

1) The oxidation number of Ni (s)= 0 2) the oxidation number of Fe in the FeCl2 (aq) = +2 3) The oxidation number of Cl in the FeCl2 (aq) = -1 4) The oxidation number of Fe (s) = 0 5) The oxidation number of Ni in the NiCl2 (aq) = +2 6) The oxidation number of Cl in the NiCl2 (aq) = -1 7) The element that is oxidized and the element that is reduced Iron is oxidized and Ni reduced 8) The oxidizing agent and the reducing agent The oxidizing agent what is reduced so Ni (2+) (aq) is the oxidizing agent; the reducing agent is what is oxidized, so Fe(s) is the reducing agent.

Conclusions This lab helped me to have a better understand of Oxidations that is a loss of electrons and reduction that is a gain of electrons. An oxidizing agent is the substance that is reduced in a reaction, and a reducing agent is the substance that is oxidized in a reaction. With different substances and different metals I was able to see different ways that they can react, the aluminum reacting with Iron Chloride was very interesting because it dissolved into the solution.