Outcomes:
- plan and carry out simple safe experiments
- observe reactions and record results
- make judgements based on observations
Activity: using basic laboratory equipment carry out simple, small scale experiments to observe the reactions of some metals with water, acid and oxygen.
Safety: The reactions of sodium, potassium and calcium must be carried out under teacher supervision in a fume cupboard.
Materials: General laboratory equipment +
magnesium
iron
copper
zinc
aluminium
distilled water
0.1 M hydrochloric acid
Reactions with water
In test tubes, add each sample of metal to a sample of distilled water (wear safety glasses), and record your observations of what happens.
(may be slow)
Reactions with acid
In test tubes, add each sample of metal to a sample of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (wear safety glasses), and record your observations of what happens.
Reactions with oxygen
Using tongs/deflagrating spoons as appropriate (ask your teacher), heat each sample in a 'Bunsen burner' flame (wear safety glasses), and record your observations of what happens.
Analysis: For each experiment, rank your interpretation of the reactivity in order from most to least reactive.
Based on the results of each experiment, compile an official ranking of the reactivity of these metals from most reactive to least reactive.
Extension: give the electron configuration for each of the metals (e.g. Na is 2.8.1), does this have any correlation with the reactivity?
Next Lesson: Reactivity of the halogens