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Unit 5 Lesson 2_ Qualitative analysis lab

The qualitative analysis lab investigates redox reactions involving various metals and copper(II) sulfate, identifying reducing and oxidizing agents. Observations show that aluminum, zinc, and iron displace copper from the solution, while copper does not react with its own ions. The experiment highlights the importance of reactivity differences among metals in facilitating displacement reactions.

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Nachiketh Nagothi
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18 views

Unit 5 Lesson 2_ Qualitative analysis lab

The qualitative analysis lab investigates redox reactions involving various metals and copper(II) sulfate, identifying reducing and oxidizing agents. Observations show that aluminum, zinc, and iron displace copper from the solution, while copper does not react with its own ions. The experiment highlights the importance of reactivity differences among metals in facilitating displacement reactions.

Uploaded by

Nachiketh Nagothi
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 PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Qualitative analysis lab

Purpose:To explore the relationship between reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions involving

various substances. Additionally, it aims to improve our understanding of the process by

identifying the substances that function as reducing agents and those that serve as oxidizing

agents.

Materials:

-Copper(II)

-Sulfate -Salt

-Aluminum -Zinc

-Iron

-Copper wire

Data table:

Metal Solution Observations Redox Equations

Aluminum (Al) CuSO4 Initially, the solution 2Al(s) + 3CuSO4(aq)


seemed blue.After →Al2(SO4)3 (aq) +
adding aluminium 3Cu(s)
and waiting 30
minutes, the intensity
of the bluish hue in
the solution
decreased and
appeared to fade
away. Brownish
deposits can be seen
on the aluminium
foil, and a brownish
solid remains once
the solution is
removed.

Zinc (Zn) CuSO4 Initially, the solution Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq)→


was blue. After ZnSO4(aq + Cu(s)
adding aluminium
and waiting 30
minutes, the blue
colour in the solution
appeared to fade.
Brownish deposits or
precipitate can be
detected, leaving a
brownish solid after
the solution is
withdrawn.

Iron (Fe) CuSO4 Initially, the solution Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq)→


was blue.After adding FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
aluminium and
waiting 30 minutes,
the intensity of the
bluish hue in the
solution dropped and
appeared to be
receding. Brownish
deposits can be found
on the iron wire.

Copper (Cu) CuSO4 No evident reaction. No evident reaction.

Discussion:

1.​ Adding salt to each beaker increases the solution's conductivity, allowing for more rapid

measurements. The reactions shown in the experiment demonstrate displacement and

redox reactions. Copper (II) sulphate salt promotes the redox process by delivering Cu2+

and SO42- ions. These ions subsequently interact with the metals in solution, resulting in

the creation of the corresponding products.


2.​ The waiting interval is necessary due to the slow nature of the displacement reaction,

which requires enough time for visible changes. These reactions are classified as

displacement reactions, which involve the replacement of one metal by another over a

particular time period. As a result, a 30-minute waiting period is required to allow the

reaction to continue efficiently.

3.​ A metal and its metal ion do not undergo a displacement reaction since their standard

electrode potentials match. Displacement reactions can only occur between distinct

metals and metal ions. The fourth beaker, which contained copper wire and copper

sulphate salt, did not react due to the presence of a single metal ion. In contrast, the other

beakers contain two metal ions with varied reactivities, which tend to displace one

another. This difference in reactivity precludes the displacement reaction from taking

place in the fourth beaker.

4.​ a. Aluminium, which is more reactive than copper in the first beaker, rapidly loses three

electrons at the atomic level, displacing copper in the new salt and producing aluminium

sulphate. The Cu2+ ions, in turn, take electrons from the solution and produce copper

metal, as seen by the solution's decreasing blue colour.

b. When zinc is added to the CuSO4 solution in the second beaker, its higher reactivity

displaces copper from copper sulphate at the atomic level, resulting in a zinc sulphate

solution and changing the colour from blue to colourless. Initially, the CuSO4 solution is

blue, while the ZnSO4 solution is colourless.

c. In the third beaker, at the atomic level, the extremely reactive iron displaces copper in

copper sulphate by contributing two electrons, causing oxidation and the formation of
ferrous sulphate. The copper in the combination undergoes reduction, gaining two

electrons and then being liberated.

d.No reaction occurs because metals cannot react with their own ions.

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