13.09.

21 Monday
Experiment No: 10
Aim:
To understand the reactivity series of metals by demonstrating chemical
reactions.

Material required:
Beakers (100ml), zinc granule, iron nail, copper turnings, copper sulphate, zinc
sulphate and ferrous sulphate and water.

Theory:
The arrangement of metals in the order of decreasing reactivity is called
reactivity series of metals.

When a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt
solution, the reaction is known as displacement reaction.

CuSO4 + Zn (granule) ------> ZnSO4 + Cu

CuSO4 + Fe (nail) ------> FeSO4 + Cu
ZnSO4 + Cu (turnings) ------> No Reaction
FeSO4 + Cu (turnings) ------> No Reaction
ZnSO4 + Fe (nail) ------> No Reaction
Procedure:
1. Take five 100 mL beakers and label them A, B, C, D and E.
2. Take about 50 mL of water in each beaker. 
3. Dissolve a teaspoonful of copper sulphate in beaker A and B, zinc sulphate in
beaker C and E, and ferrous sulphate in beaker D.
4. Keep the beakers undisturbed for some time.
5. Add the following metals in the beakers:
 Zinc granule in beaker A.
 Iron nail in beaker B and E.
 Copper turnings in beaker C and D.

Observations:
1. In beaker A, zinc (Zn) replaced copper (Cu) from copper sulphate solution
and formed zinc sulphate (ZnSO4). The colour of the solution changes from blue
to colourless and red mass of powdered copper is deposited at the bottom of the
beaker.

2. In beaker B, iron (Fe) replaced copper (Cu) from copper sulphate solution
and formed ferrous sulphate (FeSO4). The colour of the solution changes from
blue to green and red powdered mass of copper is deposited at the bottom of the
beaker.

3. No reactions took place in beakers C and E because copper and iron are less
reactive than zinc. Therefore, they did not replace zinc from zinc sulphate
solution.

4. No reaction took place in beaker D because copper is a less reactive metal

than iron. Thus, it did not replace iron from ferrous sulphate.

NOTE: REACTIONS NOT TO BE WRITTEN. JUST DRAW THE

DIAGRAMS AND LABEL THE NAME AND COLOUR OF THE
SOLUTIONS IN FIGURE (a).

NOTE: TABLE TO BE DRAWN WITH PENCIL AND SCALE ON RULED

SIDE. NAMES SHOULD BE WRITTEN WITH THE PEN. THE ARROWS
SHOULD BE DRAWN WITH A SCALE AND A PENCIL.

METALS SYMBOLS ORDER OF

REACTIVITY
POTASSIUM K Most reactive
SODIUM Na
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
ALUMINIUM Al
ZINC Zn Reactivity decreases

IRON Fe
LEAD Pb
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
GOLD Au
PLATINUM Pt Least reactive