EXPERIMENT3

sall

s o l u t i o n s :
(a) ZnSo
(ai
following
on the
a n d A l

metals
reactivity

based on
the above
AIM Fe, Cu of
ofZn,
order
decreasing
Observin
(i) (d) Al,(SO),(aq
t i o n
(b) FeSO,(aq)
(e) CuSsO (aq) m e t a l s )

in
the
and Al (n
Zn, Fe, Cu
(ii) Arrange
result. of
zinc
Strips
(i)
ofiron
MATERIALS R E Q U I R E D
sulphate
Strips
(iv) ferrous
(i) Strips of copper Solution of sulphate
(vi) aluminium
(ii) Strips of
aluminium Solution of
sulphate (vii)
(v) Solution of copper x) Sandpaper
(vii) Solutionof zinc sulphate
beakers
mL
(ix) Four 100
reactivity
eries of metals. In the
seri
(x7) Forceps
is placedat the ottom
as
known
reactivity
is reactive
metal
least
fdecreasing
the
in the order ofo
THEORY whereas
of metals at the top
The
arrangement
reactive metal
is placed
IS below.
most
the is given
reactivity series, metals
Metals
of the
common
series Series of
The reactivity Reactivity
Symbol
Elements Most Reactive
K
Potassium
Na
Sodium
Ca
Calcium
Magnesium
Mg
These metals are
Aluminium
Al
more reactive Zn Chemical
Zine
than hydrogen. Fe reactivity
Iron
Ni
Nickel decreases
Sn down the
Tin
Pb
Lead series
H
Hydrogen
Copper Cu
These m e t a l s a r e
Mercury Hg
Silver Ag
less reactive
Platinum Pt
than hydrogen. Least Reactive
Gold Au
its salt solution.
series can displace any metal below it in the series from
A metal in there reactivity
can be used to find out the relative reactivities of metals.
reactions
Displacement reaction:
Cu from copper sulphate (CuSO,) solution as per following
For example: Zn displaces
Zn(s) + CuSO, (aq) ZnS0, (aq) + Cu(s)
Copper
Zinc sulphate
(Blue)
Zinc sulphate Copper
(Reddish brown) (Colourless)
14
DIAGRAM 0n DD fo4
Zinc sulphate Aluminium Ferrous
Copper suiphate sulphate sulphate
Zinc strips Zinc strips Zinc strips Zinc strips
PROCEDURE
1. Take four 100 mL beakers and label them as zinc sulphate, copper sulphate, aluminium sulphate and ferrous
sulphate.
2 Add 20 m of ZnSO,, CuSO,, Al,(SO,), and FeSO, solutions in the labelled beakers separately.
3 Add 2 pieces of zine metal strip into each beaker containing ZnSO, CusO,, Al,(SO), and PesO
4 Cover the beakers and after an hour note the change in colour of solutions
5. Repeat the similar procedure by adding:
i) Copper strips to ZnSO, CuS0, Al,(SO), and FesO, solutions.
(ii) Aluminium strips to ZnSO, CuSO Al, (S0,)3 and FeSO, solutions.
iii) fron strips to ZnSO,, CuSO,, Al,(SO,; and FeS0, solutions.
OBSERVATION
Cn Blan
Salt
solution Colour ehange
Metal Inference
in which of solution
added
Cannot displace itself from its salt solution
No colour change
Zn ZnSO Blue colour of CuSO, disappears
Z n can displace Cu
Zn CuSO Solution remains colourless Zn cannot displace Al
Zn Al, SO, 3 Zn can displace Fe
.Green colour of ferrous sulphate disappears
Zn FeSO Cannot displace itself from its salt solution
2 Cu CuSO No colour change
C u cannot displace Zn
Solution remains colourless
Cu ZnSO, C u cannot displace Al
.Solution remains colourless
Cu
Al,(S0,) Solution remains colourless
.Cu cannot displace Fe
Cu FeSO
.Cannot displace itself from its salt solution
No colour change
3. Al
Al.(SO, Solution remains colourless, but
a new
coating is Al can displace Zn
Al ZnSO seen on Al
A l can displace Cu
Blue colour of copper sulphate disappears
Al CuSO Reddish brown deposits are seen
P a l e green colourthe solution disappears
of Al can displace Fe
Al FeSO4 metal are seen
Deposits on Al
Cannot displace itselffrom its salt solution
4. Fe FeSO No colour change F e cannot displace Zn
remains colourless
Fe ZnSO The solution .Fe can displace Cu
Blue colour of copper sulphate changes
Fe CuSO Cu are seen
Deposits on
colourless F e cannot displace Al
Fe Al SO T h e solution remains
 16 COMPREHENSIVE SCIENCE AOCTIVITIES VOL I
RESULT
Al can displace Fe, Cu and Zn from their salt solutions. It is more reactivemetal. Cu cannot displaceany
metal-Fe, Zn and Al from their salt solutions. Hence, Cu is least reactive metal. Zn can displace Pe and Cu from
their salt solutions. Thus, Zn is more reactive than Fe and Cu.
Al> Zn > Fe > Cu
Most reactive Least reactive
Reactivity in decreasing order
PRECAUTIONS
1. Do not touch any chemical.
2. The apparatus you use must be clean and dry.
3. Always clean the metallic strips before use with a sandpaper.
4. For the preparation of solutions use only distilled water and add small quantity of sulphuric acid.
5. Keep the beaker at a safe place till the reaction is complete.