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.