Chemical Reactions.

Metal Reactivities Lab and Types of Reactions Lab.

Metal Reactivities Lab

In this lab you will observe and compare some chemical reactions of several metallic elements. The reactions to be studied are single displacement reactions. From observing various reactions, you will construct an activity series for the metals. Before you come into lab, write an introduction/background, hypothesis, and make up a procedure. Since you do not know which metals and solutions will be used, make the hypothesis applicable to a lot of different metals. The procedure will also be generic. The data table will be constructed before the start of the lab.

For the lab you will be given about 4-5 samples of various metals. You will also be given pipettes of different metal ion solutions and an overhead transparency.

Data Analysis and Questions:

  1. List the metals in order, placing the most reactive metal first and proceeding in order to the least reactive metal.
  2. Refer to your metal activity list in #1. Based on the list, can you tell why the Statue of Liberty was made with copper instead of zinc?
  3. What material that you observed in this activity might have been a better choice for the statue than copper? Why wasn't it chosen?
  4. a) Given your knowledge of relative chemical activity, which one metal on your list is most likely to be found in an uncombined or "free" state in nature?
    b) Which metal would be most likely to be found as a compound in nature?

Evaluation and Conclusion as usual.


Types of Reactions

In this lab you will perform various chemical reactions in the lab. You will record your observations and then identify the type of reaction and write a balanced chemical equation. The purpose of this lab is to become more familiar with the five types of chemical reactions.

Lab Writeup

  1. Introduction/Background: Describe the five different types of reactions and give an example of each. Give the purpose of the lab.
  2. Hypothesis: None needed.
  3. Procedure:
    1. Obtain 3 small test tubes.
    2. In the first test tube, place a piece of zinc and about 1/2 mL of CuSO4 solution. Record observations.
    3. In the second test tube add about 1/2 mL Ba(NO3)2 solution to about 1/2 mL of CuSO4 solution. Record observations.
    4. In the third test tube place a piece of magnesium ribbon. Add about about 1/2 mL of HCl solution. Record observations.
    5. Light a bunsen burner (burning methane gas, CH4). Record observations of the flame.
    6. Rinse out the first test tube. Add about 2 mL H2O2 solution. Lightly heat it. Record observations.
    7. Add a pinch of MnO2 (catalyst) to the H2O2 solution. Lightly heat it. Record observations.
  4. Data:Make up your own data table.
  5. Data Analysis: Write a balanced equation for each reaction. Identify the type of reaction.
  6. Evaluation: as usual.
  7. Conclusion: as usual.

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