Hannah+&+Cian

Aim: To find the reactivity of aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zinc in hydrochloric acid and rank them on a scale of reactivity from most to least. Variables:

the Variable? || How will it be changed? How will it be measured? How will it be controlled? || Hypothesis: If a metal is closer to having a complete shell, then it will be react faster because there are fewer electrons to lose or gain.
 *  || What is/are
 * Independent Variable || Metal dissolved in hydrochloric acid || Use different metals in each experiment. ||
 * Dependent Variable || Time taken for each metal to dissolve in to hydrochloric acid || Use a stop watch to time the amount of time taken to dissolve. ||
 * Controlled variables / Constants || Amount of Hydrochloric acid || Measure the amount of Hydrochloric acid and use that amount in each experiment ||
 * ^  ||  Container used  || Use a test tube in each experiment ||
 * ^  || Amount of metal used || Measure the metal shavings and make sure it’s the same for each experiment ||
 * ^  || <span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">The timer || <span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Same person holds the stop watch ||

Equipment and Materials: <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· 5 test-tubes <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· ¼ mm of iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium, zinc powder <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Stop watch <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· 5 ml of Hydrochloric acid in each test tube <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Lab coat <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Safety goggles

Method: <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 1. Gather all materials <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 2. Place ½ cm of each metal powder in each test tube <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 3. Pour the 5ml of acid in one of the test tubes (were lab coat and safety googles) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 4. Time how long it takes for it to dissolve (maximum 6 mins) <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 5. Record what you see at 1 min intervals <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;"> 6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all metals have been tested.

Reactions of different metals in hydrochloric acid in a six minute time froame :
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Element/Time in acid || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">1 Min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">2 Min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">3 Min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">4 Min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">5 Min || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">6 Min ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iron || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Large bubble formed and little bubbles formed || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Larger bubbles are coming from the iron and the acid is a bit foggy || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Small streem of bubbles are coming from the middle of the iron || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Larger bubble streams have formed near the edge and the mass seems to have decreased || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Acid has become very foggy and large bubbles are coming from every were || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">On final time the acid has become semi opaque and the mass seems to have decreased greatly. Note: when acid was pored out horrible smell came from test tube ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Aluminum || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Instantly reacted with acid and formed an odd layer of aluminum that prevents air from escaping. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Large air bubble formed under the crust and is stuck. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Some of the aluminum powder has fallen down from the crust. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Powder continues to fall and is making the acid opaque || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Powder has stopped falling fromm the crust and has settled at the bottom of the test tube || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Final time: Everything has separated, the powder has fallen to the bottom, acid is in between the crust and powder, and the crust has stayed at the top. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Copper || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">No reaction (N/R) || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">N/R || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">N/R || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">N/R || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">N/R || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">N/R ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Magnesium || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Reacted immediately to the acid and began to bubble and condensation formed near the top. Steam was coming out || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">At two minuts the reaction settle down but there are still bubble coming from the magnesium. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The acid is opaque and there are bubbles suspended in the acid. The magnesium at times “jumps. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The water is more opaque and more there are more bubbles suspended and more bubbles come from the magnesium. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The bubbles have made the water more opaque than the white reaction. Large bubbles are coming from the bottom of the magnesium. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The acid is very bubbled and more are coming from the magnesium. The magnesium is warm. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Zinc || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Instantly reacted and bubbled into a grey crust similar to aluminum and also separated. Begins to bubble || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Has become suspended and a large amount of bubbles come from the bottom. Crust is being suspended by the bubbles. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Crust has become enlarged and looks like its reaching down. The bottom is reaching up to the crust. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The separation has become very small and the crust is falling down. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It’s a bit war. There is no powder left and it seems to be inflated by the air coming from the bottom. || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Bubble is stuvk in the crust crust has collapsed over the air bubble and is suspended in between the semimetal zinc and the zinc crust. ||

PICTURES FROM OBSERVATIONS- SENT TO MR OTTO :)

Conclusion: From this experiment, we found out the reactivity of aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zinc in hydrochloric acid and ranked them on a scale from most reactive to least reactive- magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron, copper. Magnesium: Symbol: Mg Atomic number: 12 2 away Aluminium: Symbol: Al Atomic number: 13 3 away Zinc: Symbol: Zn Atomic number: 30 6 away Iron: Symbol: Fe Atomic number: 26 8 away Copper: Symbol: Cu Atomic number: 29 7 away <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These results do support our hypothesis because the elements with the lower atomic mass and number reacted faster. The reason that the magnesium was more reactive that the copper was because it was closer to becoming a noble gas so it has to lose less electrons to lose so there is a quicker reaction compared to a metal that has a lot of electrons to lose.

Evaluation: The data we have collected is pretty reliable as we only had one independent variable in all the experiments. The method we used to collect our data was fairly reliable, but it has its pros and cons.


 * Weakness ||  Improvement  ||
 * It was hard to <span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">measure the amount of each sample and make sure they were equal.   ||  We should have drawn a line on the test-tubes to indicate ½ cm using an erasable marker. This would have made it easier and more accurate to measure the amount of each sample.  ||
 * Each experiment was only done once. ||  We should have done each experiment at least twice, to have a fairer lab.  ||