Louise+&+JP

   **__Lab: The Reactivity of 5 different metals__** December 18, 2009

-The aim of this lab is to observe 5 different metals (Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Iron) and figure out which metal is more reactive than the other when it is put in a hydrchloric acid.
 * __Aim:__**


 * __Variables:__ **

-Same person -The size of the balloon -scale || - Always use 0.5 grams of each metal, measure this using a scale. Also, always use 5 milliliters of hydrochloric acid, measure this using a measuring cup. - The same person has to observe in all experiments to make it a fair test. Louise will Observe and take notes, while JP films and times it for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. -The size of the balloons should all be same in order to compare the reactivity more accurately. -same type of scale will be used to make sure that the amount of each powder is same. || -If we put 0.5 grams of 5 different metals (zinc, copper, aluminium, iron, magnesium) into 5 milileters of hydrochloric acid, then, magnesium will be the most reactive metal because it is located in group two, period three, so the valance electrons are further away from the nucleus. Aluminium will be the least reactive metal since it is located in group 3, period 3,furthest left out of other 4 types of metals.
 * Type || What? || How? ||
 * Independent || Type of Metal || 5 different metals will be tested. Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe) ||
 * Dependent (what we measure) || Reactivity of different metals || One metal at a time will be placed in a test tube with hydrochloric acid. Then we will observe it and see how it reacts. ||
 * Controls/Constants (keep same) || -Amount
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: KO; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hypothesis: __**


 * __Equipment:__**
 * 0.5 grams of Copper
 * 0.5 grams of Magnesium
 * 0.5 grams of Iron
 * 0.5 grams of Zinc
 * 0.5 grams of Aluminum
 * 5 mililiters of Hydrochloric acid
 * 10 test tubes
 * Test tube rack
 * Scale
 * Graduated Cylinder
 * Pippette
 * 10 petri dishes
 * 5 balloons
 * Stop watch
 * Camera

<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">1. Gather materials. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">2. Use a graduated cylinder and put 5 milliliters of hydrochloric acid then poor it into a test tube. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">3. Get copper and put it on the scale, make sure there is 0.5 grams. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">4. Then put the metal into the test tube with the hydrochloric acid and put it in the test tube rack. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">5. Then place a balloon on the test tube. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">6. Observe the metal for 2 minutes and 30 second and take notes. Film it at the same time. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">7. Repeat steps 2-6 for the 5 different metals.
 * __Method:__**


 * __Diagram of Apparatus:

__**


 * __Observations:__**

(Al) || * nothing happens (Zn) || * there are bubbles (Fe) || * react directly
 * The reactivity of 5 different Metals**
 * Element || Observations || Video || Conclusion ||
 * Copper (Cu) || * nothing happens
 * some goes to the bottom and some goes to the top
 * after a long time there are bubbles and the balloon is bigger || [] || 4 ||
 * Magensium(Mg) || * directly reacts
 * there are a lot of bubbles
 * the magnesium is at the bottom
 * the test tube is very hot
 * there is condensation
 * the balloon is becoming bigger || [] || 1 ||
 * Aluminum
 * the aluminum stays at the top some goes to the bottom
 * aftter a long time there are bubbles and the balloon is bigger || [] || 5 ||
 * Zinc
 * the powder is collecting at the top of the acid
 * there are big bubbles at the top
 * the powder is going to the bottom
 * the balloon is slowly becoming bigger || [] || 2 ||
 * Iron
 * goes to the bottom
 * there are bubbles || [] || 3 ||
 * __Conclusion:__**

1. "Although most metals are usually electropositive in nature and lose electrons in a chemical reaction they do not react with the same vigour or speed." (N. Russo, Dennis R. Salahub, Paul R. Raithby/The Reactivity Series of Metals) After putting in 0.5 grams of each metal (powder) into the hydrochloric acid seperately, we were able to conclude from the observation that magnesium is the most reactive metal out of the 5 metals and then zinc, iron, copper, aluminum.

2. The hypothesis we have made was quite accurate because we stated that magnesium will be the most reactive since it only has one electron, which results to more vigorous reaction. The hypotheiss also said that Aluminum will be the least reactive since it is on the furthest left. These Hypothesis turned out to be all accurate. However, for the least-reactive, we did not say 'why' being furthest left on the periodic table will make a metal less reactive than others.

3. "In introductory chemistry, the **reactivity series** or **activity series** is an empirical series of metals, in order of "reactivity" from highest to lowest. (Reactivity Seies, Wikipedia)" Reactivity Series describes and summarizes the reactivity of each metal in acid and water. The data given from Reactivity Series all matched the information we have obtained from the lab. For example, it described in the reactivity series that is "very reactive with dilute hydrochloric acid forming the colourless soluble salt, magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas" (The Reactivity Series of Metal). However, reactivity series not only describes but also gives the formula and balancing equation. "The further left and down an element is located on the peridodic table, the more reactive." Our result supported

4. In this lab, we compared the reactivity of 5 different metals when put into hydrochloric acid and resulted that magnesium is the most reactive followed by zinc, iron, copper and finally aluminum. "For metals in a given period reactivity is determined by the number of electrons that must be transferred to a nonmetal." (Larry Jones, Chemical Reactivity). With this given fact, we were able to conclude that the stability of atoms in a metal depends on the number of electrons in the outer shell. So, the more electrons there are in the valence, or the outer shell, the less reactivity between atoms since less electrons have to be transferred. Another characteristics of metals that are more reactive than others is that they have more shells and more atoms. Since the positively nucleus are the only things that attracts and stabilizes the negatively charged electrons, the distance between the nucleus and the electrons may change the reactivity of metal. As the number of shells increase, the bond between atoms become weaker and the atoms become more active. Then, the atoms start moving faster and more away from each other, which results to vibration between each other. This is when reaction is caused. Also, since there are large amount of atoms, there will be more atoms reacting. These two characteristics of metal were the things that effected the reactivity of the 5 different metals in hydrochloric acid. As for magnesium, it has only 1 valence, so it will be more reactive than any other metal. As for zinc, it has the most shells out of the 5 metals, but since it has more valence, making it the second most-reactive metal. Iron, copper, and aluminum were all based on these characteristics. When these metals each react inside the acid, they give off gas (hydrogen gas) and cause the balloon preventing the gas from leaking to expand. However, the expansion of balloons for each metal differs since each metal is reacting in different amount, some causing more vibration and heat, and others less.

__<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">**Evaluation:** __

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> 1. he data is not that reliable because we only did the experiment once and we could have made a lot of mistakes when we were doing the experiments.

2. I dont think the method is valid because we had too many weaknesses. That shows that the method wasnt clear end precise enough. Anyne wouldnt be able to follow it.

3.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Weaknesses || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Improvements ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">One weakness was that we didn’t put the balloon on the test tube at the same time for all five experiments. || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Next time we should wait for about 10 seconds after we put the acid into the powder and put the balloon on the test tube. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Another weakness was that when we got the metal out of the Petri dish, some of it got stuck. || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Next time we should put the metal straight into a test tube and then put the hydrochloric acid into the test tube with the metal. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Another weakness was that the metals only got 1 minute to react. This was not fair because some metals, like aluminum and copper needed more time to react. || <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 110%;">Next time we should have a longer time limit like, 10 minutes because then it would be more of a fair test. ||

4. This was not a fair test because we had too many weaknesses that could affect our results. Since some of the metal got stuck in the Petri dish there was more of one metal than the other and that affected the results. Some metal also fell outside the test tube. Next time we should think more about what to do to make it a fair test before we start the experiment.

__<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';"> Real Life Applications: __ <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">-One real life application would be that, now we know what metals react more than other metals so in the future we will be able to prevent explosions etc because we know what elements are more reactive.

__Work Cited__

"The Reactivity Series of Metals ." //TutorVista//. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. <http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/metals-non-metals/ reconcept-series-metals.php>. "Chemical Reactivity." //Pickens County School District//. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. []. "Reactivity Series." //Wikipedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactivity_series>.