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Experiment No. 3

The document describes an experiment to observe the reactivity of metals Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al by adding pieces of each metal to salt solutions of ZnSO4, FeSO4, CuSO4, and Al2(SO4)3 and recording observations. Based on the results, the metals are ranked in order of decreasing reactivity as Al > Zn > Fe > Cu.

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3K views3 pages

Experiment No. 3

The document describes an experiment to observe the reactivity of metals Zn, Fe, Cu, and Al by adding pieces of each metal to salt solutions of ZnSO4, FeSO4, CuSO4, and Al2(SO4)3 and recording observations. Based on the results, the metals are ranked in order of decreasing reactivity as Al > Zn > Fe > Cu.

Uploaded by

mayankroy9431
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Observing the action of Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals on

the salt solutions

Aim
a) To observe the action of Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals on the
following salt solutions:
 ZnSO4 (aq)
 FeSO4 (aq)
 CuSO4 (aq)
 Al2(SO4)3 (aq)
b) Arrange Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals in the decreasing order of
reactivity based on the above result.
Apparatus and Chemicals
 Test tubes
 Test tube stand
 Distilled water
 Four metals (Fe, Cu, Al, and Zn)
 FeSO4 solution
 CuSO4 solution
 Al2(SO4) solution
 ZnSO4 solution
 Sand paper
Principle
A more reactive metals displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. The
reactivity of these four metals is in the order Al > Zn > Fe > Cu. As such aluminium
will displace Zinc, iron and copper.

2Al + 3ZnSO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Zn


2Al + 3FeSO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Fe
2Al + 3CuSO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Cu

Zinc will displaces iron and copper from their solutions. But it will not displaces
aluminium from its salt solution.

Zn + Al2(SO4)3 → No reaction
Zn + FeSO4 → ZnSO4 + Fe
Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu

Iron will displace only copper from its salt solution.

Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu

Copper can’t displace Al, Zn and Fe

Procedure
 Clean the metals with sand paper and cut into small pieces.
 Take 10 mL each of ZnSO4, FeSO4, and CuSO4 solutions in three test tubes. Add 1-2 small
pieces of aluminium to each test tube. Record your observation in the table.
 Take 10 mL each of Al2(SO4)3, FeSO4 and CuSO4 solutions in three test tubes. Add 1-2 small
pieces of Zinc to each test tube. Record your observations in the table.
 Take 10 mL each of Al2(SO4)3, FeSO4 and CuSO4 solutions in three test tubes. Add 1-2 small
pieces of iron to each test tube. Record your observations in the table.
 Take 10 mL each of Al2(SO4)3, FeSO4 and FeSO4 solutions in three test tubes. Add 1-2 small
pieces of copper to each test tube. Record your observations in the table.
Observations
Metal
Al2(SO4)3 sol. ZnSO4 sol. FeSO4 sol. CuSO4 sol.
added

Zn is Fe is Cu is
Aluminium —–
displaced displaced displaced

Fe is Cu is
Zinc No reaction —–
displaced displaced

Cu is
Iron No reaction No reaction —–
displaced
No
Copper No reaction No reaction —–
reaction

Inference : The order of reactivity of these four metals is ; Al > Zn > Fe > Cu

Precautions
 Use only distilled water for the experiment.
 Add 1-2 drops of conc. H2SO4 to clear the solutions of metals salts (if needed).
 Thoroughly clean the apparatus before the experiment.
 Clean the metals pieces with sand paper before experiment

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