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Experiment #2 / Unit 4 Single Replacement Reactions: Metals Switching Places in Solution

This document describes Experiment #2 which investigates single replacement reactions between metals and metal ion solutions. Students will carry out reactions between pieces of zinc, copper, lead, and silver metals with solutions of copper(II) nitrate, silver nitrate, lead(II) nitrate, and zinc nitrate. They will observe for evidence of replacement reactions and use the results to construct an activity series for the metals. The activity series shows the tendency of metals to replace other metals from their ionic compounds in solution, with more active metals displacing less active ones.

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49 views2 pages

Experiment #2 / Unit 4 Single Replacement Reactions: Metals Switching Places in Solution

This document describes Experiment #2 which investigates single replacement reactions between metals and metal ion solutions. Students will carry out reactions between pieces of zinc, copper, lead, and silver metals with solutions of copper(II) nitrate, silver nitrate, lead(II) nitrate, and zinc nitrate. They will observe for evidence of replacement reactions and use the results to construct an activity series for the metals. The activity series shows the tendency of metals to replace other metals from their ionic compounds in solution, with more active metals displacing less active ones.

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api-368121935
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Experiment #2 / Unit 4

Single Replacement Reactions:


Metals Switching Places in Solution

Introduction:
A piece of iron is placed in a solution of copper (II) nitrate and copper
begins to "grow" on the iron. A piece of silver is also placed in a solution of
copper (II) nitrate yet nothing happens.

Fe(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)  Fe(NO3)2(aq) + Cu(s)


Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)  No Reaction

Why does one of these single replacement reactions take place and the
other does not? It has been found that there is a difference in the ability of
metals to replace other metals from a dissolved compound. This ability is called
a metal's activity. A single replacement reaction will only occur if the element
that is used (A) is more chemically active than the element it is trying to replace
(B).
A + BC  AC + B
From the two reactions above, it seems that iron is more active than
copper and that silver is less active than copper. We could assume the following
order of activity: Fe > Cu > Ag. Iron did replace copper and thus is more active
than copper. Silver did not replace copper and thus is less active than copper.
Would this reaction occur? Fe(s) + AgNO 3(aq)  ? Yes, because iron
is more active than silver. Silver crystals would begin forming on the iron as the
iron dissolves and replaces the silver. In this experiment, we will carry out a
number of chemical reactions in order to determine the order of activity for four
metals: Pb, Ag, Cu, and Zn.

Procedure:
1. You will be carrying out a total of eight reactions. You will react a piece of
zinc metal and a piece of copper metal with each of four solutions (in a
porcelain well plate)
2. Obtain 4 pieces of both the zinc and copper metals. Place a piece of metal in
each of 8 wells in the plate (4 wells with Cu and 4 wells with Zn ).
3. Using droppers (see notes below), add enough of the solutions to cover the
metal. You can use magnifying lenses to help you see any changes.

Droppers:
 When adding chemicals, do not touch the dropper to either the solution or the
metal in the well. You may get the other chemical on the dropper and
contaminate the stock solution when you return the dropper.

4. Observe a reaction for ~ 5 minutes. Examine the metal pieces for any
evidence of a replacement reaction. Look for a change in solution color
and/or for a coating on the metal surface.
5. Record your results in a data table which has the following four columns:
Metal, Solution, Evidence of Reaction, and Metal Replaced from Solution.
6. Place the remaining metal pieces into solid waste (not down the drain!).

Honors Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 1


Questions:
1. Write balanced chemical equations for every reaction that occurred. Use
copper (II) and lead (II) ions. For reactions that did not occur, write the
reactants, followed by an arrow; then write “No Reaction” after the arrow.
2. Using your experimental data, construct an activity series for the metals
which were studied (_ > _ > _ > _) and explain why you placed each metal
where you did.

Lab Report #4.2:


 title page
 procedure sheet
 data table
 questions

Honors Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 2

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