SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

A Journal developed by children for scientific research purposes

Number:______ K&U: _____I&D: _____P&E: _____ R: _____ Date:__________

TEACHER COMMENTS:

____________________________________________________________________________________

Reactivity series of metals

Juliana Fonseca Téllez

Problem Question: What will happen when we add hydrochloric acid to copper, iron, magnesium, zinc
and aluminum we choose?

Objectives: To identify the different reactions that the metals have with the substances we are going to
use. Learn how the reactivity of metals function and how the metals react when this process is occurring.
See the different reaction and the time that the metals that react faster according to the levels of
reactivity of metals.

Hypothesis: In the reaction many things can happen, the substances can change its color, texture,
appearance, there can also produce different reactions, we can see that bubbles are produced or the
substance starts changing their state.

Introduction:
In a reactivity series, the most reactive element is placed at the top and the least reactive element at the
bottom. More reactive metals have a greater tendency to lose electron and form positive ions.

“Reactivity Series in chemistry is experimental, structurally logical progression of series of metals in

order of reactivity from highest to lowest. Metals react differently with different substances. It gives a
descriptive detail on metal reactions with the extraction of metals from ores and with acids and water.”
[ CITATION byj17 \l 9226 ]
Some metals like alkali & alkaline earth metals are very reactive & react vigorously with a reactant. But
some metals like gold & platinum are least reactive and passive for almost all reactants. Some metals
like copper release hydrogen gas with dilute acid. Hence, there must be some criteria for understanding
the reactivity of different metals and predicting the products of different reactions.

Methods and materials:

Materials:
- Copper
 SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A Journal developed by children for scientific research purposes

- Iron
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Aluminum
- Hydrochloric acid
- Dropper
- Test tubes
- Safety materials: coat, gloves, goggles.

Security codes:
Hydrochloric acid:
Risk phrases R-34 Causes burns.
R-37 Irritating to respiratory system.
Safety phrases S-1/2 Keep locked up and out of reach of children.
S-26 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical
advice. S-36/37/39 Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection.
S-45 In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label
where possible).
Methods:

First, we must clean 5 test tubes and dry them. Then, we add one metal in each of the test tubes,
maximum 4 grams. Next, we add few drops of hydrochloric acid. Finally, we wait 5 minutes and
observe what reactions occurs.

Results:

Metals/ Hydrochloric acid

Substance

Iron We can see the gas production, bubbles are made. Iron is more reactive than
hydrogen.
+1 +3
2 Fe0(s )+ 6 H Cl−1(l) → 2 Fe Cl−13+3 H 20(g)

Copper Nothing happens, copper is less reactive than hydrogen.

+1
Cu 0(s )+ H Cl−1(l) → No reaction

Aluminum We can see gas production, bubbles are made. Aluminum is more reactive
than hydrogen.
+1 +3
2 Al 0(s) +6 H Cl−1(l ) → 2 Al Cl−13 +3 H 20(g)
 SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
A Journal developed by children for scientific research purposes

Magnesium We can see gas production, bubbles are produced. Magnesium is more
reactive than hydrogen.
+1 +2
Mg 0(s) +2 H Cl−1(l) → MgCl−12+ H 20(g)

Zinc We can see gas production, bubbles are produced. Zinc is more reactive
than hydrogen.
+1 +2
Zn0(s )+2 H Cl−1(l) → ZnCl−12+ H 20(g)

Conclusion:

In conclusion, my hypothesis was accepted because the reaction that most of metals had was the gas
production, so we could observe that bubbles were produced. We could identify the metals that are
more reactive than hydrogen, this are: magnesium, aluminum, zinc and iron. The metal that is less
reactive than hydrogen is copper. I also learned about the process of reduction and oxidation, I learned
that this processes always occur at the same time and the differences between them.

References:

http://chemistry.tutorvista.com/inorganic-chemistry/reactivity-series.html

http://pubadmin.ostfold.net/data/downloads/206/SafetyDataSheetHydrochloricAcid32-36UK.pdf

Angewade Chemie International Edition book: Fürstner, A. (1993), Chemistry of and with Highly
Reactive Metals. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 32: 164–189

http://byjus.com/chemistry/reactivity-series-of-metals: [ CITATION byj17 \l 9226 ]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqjsgk7/revision

http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/thereactivityseries.html

Chemistry IB book