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TITLE:Reactive metals

AIM: To investigate reactions of reactive metals with dilute acids

EQUIPMENT:

 Five test tubes

 Wooden splint
 Test tube racks

MATERIALS:

 Metal magnesium
 Aluminum
 Zinc
 Iron
 Copper
 Dilute hydrochloric acid
 Dilute sulfuric acid

DIAGRAM:

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PROCEDURE:

1. 2 cm of dilute hydrochloric acid is placed into each of the five test tubes.
2. Each test tube was labeled with the symbol of the particular metal that will be added.
3. A small piece of metal was added to each tube, so that each tube contains a different
metal as indicated by its label.
4. Each tube was observed for signs of effervescence, if effervescence is seen the gas was
tested for the presence of hydrogen. A lighted splint was placed at the mouth of the tube.
5. If no effervescence was seen, the tube was heated gently. If effervescence was seen on
heating, the gas was tested for the presence of hydrogen.
6. The procedure was repeated using dilute sulfuric acid.
7. The observations were recorded.

OBSERVATION/RESULTS:

It was observed that magnesium reacts vigorously with hydrochloric acid, magnesium chloride
and hydrogen was formed. It was also observed that the test tube began to get warm and the test
tube did not need to be heated to effervesce. Zinc reacts vigorously to hydrochloric acid, Zinc
chloride and hydrogen was formed. Additionally, Aluminum reacts vigorously to hydrochloric
acid .aluminum chloride and hydrogen was formed. Iron reacts slowly to hydrochloric acid after
being heated and iron chloride and hydrogen was formed copper did not react to hydrochloric
acid even after being heated. Moreover using sulfuric acid magnesium, zinc, aluminum and iron
reacted with it to produce hydrogen while copper did not react at all .Additionally, the salt
formed when metals react with sulfuric acid is a sulfate. The presence of hydrogen was tested by
holding a lighted splint near the mouth of the test tube and if a ‘squeaky pop ‘sound was heard it
indicated that hydrogen was present.

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DISCUSSION:

Metals react when they lose electrons so the ease with which a metal loses its outer electrons
to form a cations will determine its reactivity . The more reactive metals will form cations
more easily than the less reactive metals. The ease with which metal atoms lose their outer
electrons is dependent on two factors: the nuclear charge and the size of the atom radius. A metal
loses electrons easily when the nuclear charge (charge of nucleus) is small and the radius of the
atom is very large. Because the electrostatic force holding the electron is smallest in those
conditions. Additionally, to lesser extent, the fewer the number of electrons that need to be lost
will increase the chance of a metal forming a cation with ease. The metal that appears above
hydrogen in the reactivity series will displace hydrogen from a solution of dilute acid and very
reactive ones (the metal even higher in the list) will even displace hydrogen from water. The
reactions of the very reactive metal with water (and dilute acid) are violent and dangerous
because they generate enough heat to ignite the hydrogen formed and this can lead to an
explosion. A single displacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction where an element
displaces another in a compound. The hydrogen in acids is displaced by the metals to produce
hydrogen gas. Two common acids are hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid .The most active
metals are magnesium, zinc, Iron, and lead. The most inactive metals are copper, silver, and
gold.

Reaction of Magnesium with hydrochloric acid

Mg (s) +2HCl (aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Product: Magnesium chloride and hydrogen

Reaction of Aluminum with hydrochloric acid

2Al(s) + 6HCl (aq) →2AlCl3(aq)+ 3H2(g)

Product: aluminum chloride and hydrogen

Reaction of Zinc with hydrochloric acid

Zn(s) + 2HCl (aq) →ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Product: Zinc chloride and hydrogen

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Reaction of iron with hydrochloric acid

Fe(S) +2HCl (aq) →FeCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Product: Iron (II) chloride and hydrogen

Copper does not react with hydrochloric acid

CONCLUSION:

It can be concluded that an acid reacts with a metal to form hydrogen gas. Additionally
magnesium, aluminum, zinc and Iron reacts with hydrochloric and sulfuric acid while copper
does not displace hydrogen because it is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.

REFLECTION:

The reactivity series allows us to predict how metals will react .A more reactive metal will
displace a less reactive metal from a compound. Rusting is an oxidation reaction. In a reactivity
series, the most reactive metal elements are placed at the top and the least reactive element at the
bottom. More reactive metals have a greater tendency to lose electrons and from positive ions.
The metals higher in the reactivity series have a greater reducing power. they lose or donate
their outer electrons easily ; therefore , it is easier for these metals to donate electrons to the
ions of the metals that occur lower in the reactivity series .

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