Metal Activity

Instructions: First we took a 24 plate that was 4x6 and the substances in the corrects numbering and lettering on the plate.

1st Column (A-C): 8 drops of copper(II)nitrate
2nd Column (A-C): 8 drops of magnesium nitrate
3rd Column (A-C): 8 drops of zinc nitrate
4th Column (A-C): 8 drops of silver nitrate
                  Then. . .
1st Row (A): place a small copper wire
2nd Row (B): place a small magnesium ribbon
3rd Row (C): place a few zinc granules

The Plate Results:

Cell letter.        Metal.       1.                   2.                 3.                  4.
                                       (Cu2+NO31-)  (Mg2+No31-) (Zn2+NO31-)  (Ag1+No31-)
   A                     Cu               NR                    NR                   NR                 PPT
   B                     Mg              PPT                   NR                   NR                 PPT
   C                     Zn               PPT                   NR                   NR                 PPT

NR= not reaction
PPT= precipitate

Observing this lab and the reactions that occured i noticed that the metal that reacted the most to the solutions was: Zinc and the metal that reacted the least to the solutions was: Copper.   From the most reactive to the least metals is: Zinc, Magnesium, then Copper

So then Mr Ludwig asked: So why in New York the Liberty girl is made of copper and not other metals? After seeing this experiment I knew why. With the statue having to deal with weather, copper was the metal that would not react or get destroyed by many elements.

Types of Reactions

•  Reaction 1: HCl+Mg-----> H2+MgCl2

What we did: Test tube 1/2 way full of hydrochloric acid, put a piece of magnesium metal in and then right away place a second tube on top. Once the reaction stops we got a matched flame and stuck it into the second tube.

What happened: A soon as the metal was put in, it bubbled like crazy and heated up the tube. Soon enough the metal was gone. . .  When the match was put in the tube, it made a loud high pitch noise. The hydrogen gas exploded and thats what caused the loud noise.

Belief: I believe that the gas that was created and the addition of the match caused an explosion, thats what caused the loud noise.

•  Reaction 2: Mg+O2---heat---> MgO

What we did: Grab a magnesium strip with a pair of tongs and light it on fire.

What happened: FIREWORK! The became a bright white light, the fire lit the metal quickly.

Belief: The magnesium strip and the fire caused a reaction that expanded, created the bright white light.

•  Reaction 3: Cu+O2 --heat--> CuO

What we did: Took a copper wire, used a sand paper to shine it up. Then we tongs we held the wire and lit it on fire.

What happened: The flames surrounded the whole wire and it was bright red looked as if the metal was melting. Once in awhile a bright little green color would show up and when it was done, the metal was burned black. If u washed it with water, the shiny copper would sort of show up.

Belief: I think that copper was such a strong substance that not even fire phased it just caused a little reaction, the fire couldn't meet coppers standards.

•  Reaction 4: (NH4)2CO3 ---heat---> NH3+CO2

What we did: We poured a small amount of ammonium carbonate into a test tube, then we heated up the test tube and shifted the scent it created.

What happened: To me it smelled like hair dye, it was very strong. My nose felt like it was burning and i thought my nose was bleeding but it just became a little runny. My eyes began to water cause it was so intense.

Belief: The fire increased the smell of the substance cause it already had a smell but after heating it up, it was defiantly a stinky smell!

•  Reaction 5: H2O2 ---mn2--> O2+H2O

What we did: We filled up a tube 1/2 way of hydrogen peroxide, and then we added a little amount of manganese dioxide. Immediately  we held another test tube over it. After the reaction was done, we lit a match and blew it a little out to where it glows, then stuck in into the top test tube.

What happened: The reaction in the tube turned all black, looked like black tar. When we put the small glowed match and it reflamed the flame.

Belief: The gas that was created was a conductor of fire or flames, it was an active gas that get the flame recreating.

•  Reaction 6: KI+Pb(NO3)2------> KNO3+PbI2

What we did: Put a small amount of potassium iodine in a test tube, then put lead nitrate into another test tube. Then we combined the too substances. . .

What happened: The two colors we started with were clear and when we joined them together, they made a bright some what powder substance.

•  Reaction 7: CuCO3---heat---> CO2+CuO

What we did: In a test tube was a small amount of copper carbonate, we covered another test tube over it and put it over the burner. When it was done reacting, we put a lit flame inside the top test tube.

What happened: When we put the flame match into the second tube, the burned substance made a gas the took the flame out.