Laboratory Activity 1C - Displacement of Metal from Its Salt Solution

Aim : To investigate a redox reaction in the displacement of metal from its salt
solution.

Apparatus : Test-tube, test-tube rack and sandpaper

Materials : Magnesium ribbon, Mg, lead plate, Pb, copper plate, Cu, 0.5 mol dm−3 of
lead(II) nitrate, Pb(NO3 )2 solution, 0.5 mol dm−3 of magnesium nitrate,
Mg(NO3 )2 solution and 0.5 mol dm−3 of copper(II) nitrate, Cu(NO3 )2
solution

Procedures : 1. Clean Mg ribbon, Pb plate and Cu plate using sandpaper.

2. Put Mg ribbon into two difference test tubes.
3. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 lead(II) nitrate into the first test tube and 0.5 mol
dm-3 copper(II) nitrate solution into the second test tube. The salt
solution is poured until the magnesium ribbon is immersed.
4. Repeat step 2 using lead plate and copper plate.
5. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 magnesium nitrate into the third test tube and
0.5 mol dm-3 copper(II) nitrate solution into the fourth test tube.
The salt solution is poured until the lead plate is immersed.
6. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 magnesium nitrate into the fifth test tube and 0.5
mol dm-3 lead(II) nitrate solution into the sixth test tube. The salt
solution is poured until the copper plate is immersed.
7. Put all the test tubes on the test tube rack.
8. Record the observation.

Diagram :

Discussion :
1. Experiment : Mg + Pb(NO3)2
 Oxidation half equation:
Reduction half equation:
Ionic equation

Oxidised substance : Reason :

Reduced substance: Reason:
Oxidising agent : Reason :
Reducing agent : Reason :

2. Experiment : Mg + Cu(NO3)2

Oxidation half equation:

Reduction half equation:
Ionic equation

Oxidised substance : Reason :

Reduced substance: Reason:
Oxidising agent : Reason :
Reducing agent : Reason :

3. Experiment : Pb + Cu(NO3)2

Oxidation half equation:

Reduction half equation:
Ionic equation

Oxidised substance : Reason :

Reduced substance: Reason:
Oxidising agent : Reason :
Reducing agent : Reason :
Data and observations:

Metals Solutions Observation Inference

Lead(II) nitrate

Magnesium

Copper(II) nitrate

Magnesium nitrate

Lead

Copper(II) nirate

Magnesium nitrate

Copper

lead(II) nirate