EXPERIMENT 4 Aim (i) To observe the action ofZn, Fe, Cu.and Al metals on the following salt solutions: (a) Z2nSO.(aq.) (b) FeSO.(aq.) (c) CuSO. (aq.) (6) Als(SO,)3(aq,) (i) Arrange Zn, Fe, Cu and Al metals in the decreasing order of reactivity based on the above result Theory > Reactivity series: The arrangement of metals in decreasing order of their reactivity is called reactivity series, The most reactive metal displaces the less reactive metal from its salt solution. > Reactivity series Na | Most reactive metal Mg Al Zn | Reactivity decreases Fe Cu Ag Au_y Least reactive metal> Metal salts are coloured » Foreg. ZnSO, — white salt _ colourless solution FeSO, aot light green salt — green solution CuSO, — blue salt — blue solution Al(SO), ——> white salt eas colourless solution > Reaction of Metals with Salt Solution (i) Salt solution CuSO. 2Al(s) + 3CuSO (aq) —> AL,(SO,),(aq) + 3Cu(s) Zn(s) + CuSO,(aq) —+ ZnSO, (aq) + Cu(s) Fe(s) + CuSO,(aq) —> FeSO,(aq) + Cuts) Cu(s) + CuSO,(aq) —> No reaction As Al, Zn and Fe can displace Cu from its salt solution hence, all three are more reactive than Cu. (ii) Salt solution FeSO,. 2Al(s) + 3FeSO,(aq). —>+ Al(SO,),(aq) + 3Fe(s) Zn(s) + FeSO,(aq) ——» ZnSO (aq) + Fe(s) Fe(s) + FeSO,(aq). —+ No reaction Cu(s) + FeSO,(aq) ——» No reaction As Zn and Al can displace Fe from its salt solution hence, Zn and A1 are more reactive than Fe but Cu is less reactive than Fe. (iii) Salt solution ZnSO. 2AK(s) + 3ZnSO,(aq) —> Al(SO,),(aq) + Zn (s) Zn(s) + ZnSO,(aq) —> No reaction Fe(s) + ZnSO,(aq) ——> No reaction Cu(s) + ZnSO,(ag) —>+ No reaction As only Al metal displaces Zn from its salt solution hence, Al is the most reactive metal among Al, Zn, Fe and Cu, Al > Zn > Fe > Cu. Materials Required Four clean test tubes, marker, a piece of sand paper and test tube stand. Chemicals required: Aluminium sulphate solution, copper sulphate solution, zinc.sulphate solution, iron sulphate solution, metal strips of iron, zinc; copper and aluminium. Procedure > Reaction with CuSO, solution: 1. Take four clean test tubes. 2. With a marker label them as A, B, C and D. 3. Take copper sulphate solution in each test tube. 4. Dip a small, clean piece of aluminium, zinc, iron and copper metals in test tubes A, B, C and D respectively. 5. Record your observations. | Metal Solution | TestTube | Metal) Experiment Observation. Inference A__|_AL_[A1+CuS0, [Blue solution of CuSO, becomes colourless. | Al is more reactive aan TB | Za |Zn+CuS0, | Blue solution of CuSO, becomes colouriess. | Zn is move reactive] C__| Fe [Fe+CuS0, [Blue solution becomes green Feismore waste L D =| Cu | Cu+ CuSO, | No change. Equilibrium: | Conclusion: Al, Zn and Fe metals are more reactive than Cu. Hence. Cu is the least reactive metal among the given four metals. > Reaction with FeSO. solution: 1. Take four clean test tubes, labelled as A. B,C, and D. 2. Take FeSO, (aq) solution in each test tube. 3. Dip small, clean pieces of aluminium, zine, iron and copper metals in test tube A, B, C and D respectively. 4. Record your observations. ‘Test Tube| Metal | Experiment Observation Inference | [A _| Al [Al+FeS0, | Greensotutionbecomescolourless | Als more reactive than Fe | eee B | Zn |Zn+FeS0, | Greensolutionbecomescolourless. | Zn is more reactive than Fe | * [c | Fe [Pet Feso, [No change. Equilibrium | | _D__| cu [Cur Feso, |Nochange. Cuis less reactive than Fe Conclusion: Al and Zn metals are more reactive than Fe and Cu > Reaction with ZnSO. solution: 1. Take test tubes A, B, C, and D, clean them 2. Add ZnSO, solution in each test tube. 3. Dip small, clean pieces of Al, Zn, Fe and Cu metal in test tube A, B, C and D respectively. 4. Record your observations.Terence Allis more reastive than Cu Equilibrium Fe is less reactive than Zn D | Cu |Cu+Zn80, — | Noreaction, Cus less reactive than Zn Conclusion: Al metal is more reactive than Zn metal. > Reaction with Al.(SO.):solution: 1, Take test tubes A, B,C, and D and clean them, 2. Add Al,(SO,); Solution in each test tube. 3. Dip small, clean pieces of Al, Zn, Fe and Cu metal in test tubes A, B, C and D respectively. 4. Recard your observations. Metal Solation | TestTube] Metal| Experiment | Observation | Inference ‘A | AL [AL+AL(S0), | Noreaction Equilibria | |B | 2a |2Zn+AL80,), | Noreaction Znis ess reactive than Al | alsoy, | = Fe | Fe*Al(SO), | Noreaction Feis less reactive than Al L | D Cu | Cu+AlfSO,), | No reaction. ‘Cu is less reactive than Al Conclusion: Al metal is not displaced by any of the given metals ie. Al, Zn, Fe and Cu. Hence, Al metal is the most reactive metal among the given metals. 1. Alis not displaced by any of the four metals from its salt solution, hence, Alis at the top of the reactivity series. 2. Alcan displace Zn from its salt solution but no other metal could displace it. Hence, the reactivity order is Al > Zn 3. Aland Zn metals can displace Fe metal from its salt solution but Cu cannot. Hence, the arrangement of metals in decreasing reactivity order is Al> Zn > Fe> Cu. |. CuSO, salution in each test tube. Bue Blue Green colour ‘colour colour is disappears disappears formed A Zn Fe cu (A) B ) (Cc) (D) Fig. AIL FeSO, solution in each test tube. a: a: colour colour change disappears disappears NN Zn oe cu (a) : (B) «© (D) Ill ZnSO. solution in each test tube. ¢- 0-9-4: (D) IV_ Al,(SO,); solution in each test tube. (A) Precautions 1. Clean the metals by rubbing them with a piece of sand paper before dipping them in the salt solutions. 2. Wash the test tubes after every set of observatians of interaction of a particular metal with the four salt solution. 3. Use very little amount of saturated solution of copper sulphate, aluminium sulphate, iron sulphate and zinc sulphate.