EXPERIMENT 3

AAM
Objecttve metals on the followin
owing sal
(A)
the action of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe)., copper (Cu)
and aluminium
e
Oserving
solutions solution [FeSO, (ag)
Ferrous sulphate
(a) Zinc sulphate solution |ZnSO, (aq) (b) solution [Al,/sO,), (ag)]
Aluminium sulphate
(c) Copper sulphate solution CuSO, (aq)) (d)
metals in the decreastng
order
of reactivi
(Cu) and aluminium (A)
z rrang
unc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper
based on above results.
CONCEPTS
salt solution. chemical The reactio
reactive metal from its aqueous
a less
A more reactive metal displaces
chemical displacement.
in aqueous copper
Sulphate solution, the
which takes place is called aluminium are placed
When the metals copper,
iron, zinc and
FeSO,aq) + Cu(s)
following reactions take place: Fe(s) + CuSO, (aq)
Cu(s) +CusO, (aq)
No reaction
2AI(S) + 3CuSO, (aq)
AL,(SO,), (aq) + 3Cu(s)
ZnSO,(aq) Cu(s)
+
Zn(s)+Cuso, (aq) concluded that: reactive than
it can be aluminium are more copper.
From the above reactions, (ii) iron, zinc and
is the least reactive, in aqueous
ferrous sulphate solution, the
1) copper aluminium are placed
iron, zinc and
3. When the metals copper,
take place: N o reaction
following reactions Fe(s)+FeSO, (aq)
Cu(s)+ FeSO, (aq)
reaction
No
2Al(s)+3FeSO, (aq) AL(SO),(aq) +
3Fe(s)
ZnSO (aq) + Fe(s)
Zn(S)+ Feso, (aq)
concluded that
reactions it can be
From the above
the least reactive.
copper is but less reactive than
zinc and aluminium.
reactive than copper,
(11) iron is more than iron and copper.
metals are more reactive following
111) zinc and aluminium zinc sulphate solution, the
zinc and aluminium are placed in aqueous
4. When the metals copper, iron,
reactions take place No reaction
No reaction Fe(s)+ZnSO, (aq)
Cu(s) +ZnSO, (aq) AL(SO,),(aq) +
3Zn(s)
Zn(s) + ZnSO, (aq) No reaction 2AI(s) +3ZnSO, (aq)
concluded
From the above reactions it can be
reactive.
() copper is the least zinc and aluminium.
than copper, but less reactive than
11) iron is more reactive aluminium.
and iron, but less reactive than
(11) zinc is more reactive than copper
(iv) aluminium is the most reactive. it can be concluded that aluminium is the most
5. Combining all the conclusions with the conclusions in (4),
the order of reactivity of metals in decreasing orderis:
reactive metal followed by zinc, iron and copper. Thus,
Aluminium> Zinc> Iron> Copper.

Apparatus Required
1. A rack of at least six clean test tubes 2. Four 100 cc beakers

Chemicals Required
1. Small pieces of clean copper, iron, zinc and aluminium in the form of wires/turnings/powder
2. Saturated aqueous solution of copper sulphate [CuSO,(aq)]
3. Saturated aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate [FeSO,(aq)]
4. Saturated aqueous solution of zinc sulphate [ZnSO,(aq)]
5. Saturated aqueous solution of aluminium sulphate [Al,(SO,),(aq)]

32
Procedure

Take four 100 cc beakers and label them copper sulphate solution, ferrous sulphate solution, zinc sulphate

and aluminium sulphate solution respectively with a marker pen.

solution
2. Collect about 20 cc of saturated solutions of copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, zinc sulphate and aluminium
shelf.
sulphate in the respective beakers marked above from the common

tubes and label them A, B, C and D. In each test tube pour about 5 cc of copper sulphate solution.
3. Take four test
) In test tube A, introduce a small piece of copper
i) In test tube B, introduce a small piece of iron.
(i) In test tube C, introduce a small picce of zinc.
iv) In test tube D, introduce a small piece of aluminium.
from each of the test tubes into the beaker.
Wait for 5 minutes and then pour off copper sulphate solution
Obserye the colour of metals in each of the test tubes.
Opservations
) In case of copper metal no change in colour takes place.
(i) In case of iron metal, a reddish-brown deposit of copper is formed on its surface
surface.
(i) In case of zinc metal, a reddish-brown deposit of copper is formed on its
reddish-brown deposit of copper is formed on its surface.
iy) In case of aluminium metal, a

Conclusions
Copper is the least reactive metal.
I r o n , zinc and aluminium are more reactive than copper.
each of the test tubes.
4. Wash the test tubes A, B, C and D with water. Pour 5 cc of ferrous sulphate solution in
I n test tube A, introduce a small piece of copper.
(i) In test tube B, introduce a small piece of iron.
(ii) In test tube C, introduce a small piece of zinc.
(iv) In test tube D, introduce a small piece of aluminium.
ferrous sulphate solution from-cachof the
Xait- for 5 minutes-and then pour off test tubes into the beaker
Observe the coBour of metals placed in each of the test tubes.
Pbservations
) In case of copper no change in colour takes place.
i) In case of iron, no change in colour takes place.
(ii) In case of zinc, a grey deposit of iron is formed on its surface.
(iv) In case of aluminium, a grey deposit of iron is formed on its surface.

Conclusions
i) Copper is the least reactive. It is already proved in step 3.
i) Iron is less reactive than zinc and aluminium
5. Wash the test tubes A, B, C and D with water. Pour 5 ce of zinc sulphate solution in each of the test tubes.
) In test tube A, introduce a small piece of copper.
(i) In test tube B, introduce a small piece of iron.
(ii) In test tube C, introduce a small piece of zinc.
iv) In test tube D, introduce a small piece of aluminium.
Wait for 5 minutes and then pour off zinc sulphate solution from each of the test tubes into the beaker. Observe
the colour of metals placed in each of the test tubes.
Ohservations
) In case of copper, no change in colour takes place
(11) In case of iron, no change in colour takes place.
(11) In case of zinc, no change in colour takes place.
(iv) In case of aluminium, a light silvery grey deposit of zinc is formed on its surface.
33
 Conclusions therefore, It 1s the most reactive metal
As aluminium reacts with zinc sulphate solution,
(11) Zincis more reactive than iron as already proved n e
in step
iron 1s more reactive than copper as proved in step *
(1V) Copper is the least reactive metal as proved
of aluminium sulphate solution each of.
in cach of th
Pour 5 cc

wash the test tubes A, B. C and D with water.

tubes.
0) In test tube A, introduce a small piece of coppel
(11) In test tube B, introduce a small picce of iron.
of Z1nC
(21) In test tube C, introduce a small picce aluminan
of
I n test tube D, introduce a small piece solution irom cach of the test tubes into ihne beake
sulphate
tor S minutes and then pour off aluminium tuDeS.
t each of the test

serve the colour of metals placed in

Observations in colour
takes place.
i n case of copper, no change takes place.
(1) In case of iron, no change in colour
change in colour takes plaCe.
(11) In case of zinc, no
colour takes place.
In case of aluminium, no change in
Iv)
Conclusions
in step 5 not react with its own
salt i.e., aluminim el
As already proved reactive metal, therefore, it does sulphate
Aluminium is the most
1) and copper.
Zinc is reactive than iron
(1) more
reactive than copper.
(111) Iron is more

least reactive.
(1v) Copper is the
decreasing order
XOrder of activity of metals in concluded
be
From the above experiments it can

Aluminium is the most reactive metal.

) reactive than iron and copper.
aluminium, but more
(11) Zinc is less reactive than more reactive than copper.
aluminium and zinc, but
(11) Iron is less reactive than
metal.
(iv) Copper is the least reactive
in the decreasing order is
Thus, the order of reactivity of metals
Aluminium> Zinc>Iron> Copper.
ecautions
zinc sulphate and aluminium sulphate.
1. Use saturated solutions of copper sulphate, iron sulphate,
2. Rub the pieces of metals with sand paper, so that they are
free from the metallic oxides, sticking to thei
surfaces.
nta(