displacement reactions of metal

Lab Report on

Displacement Reactions of Metals

Hypothesis

I can predict that a more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its salts. To predict the displacement, I have applied the knowledge of reactivity and this is my prediction:

Copper Magnesium

Iron Zinc

Magnesium Iron

Zinc Copper

Magnesium will displace zinc, iron and copper as it is a very reactive metal. Zinc will displace iron and copper but not magnesium as magnesium is more reactive. Iron will displace copper only as it is a less reactive metal. And copper will not be able to displace any metals because it is a very weak metal.

Method

I had placed the three pieces of the four different metals on a tile containing twelve holes.
Then I added the aqueous solution that is magnesium solution, iron solution, zinc solution & copper solution onto the different metals.
Then the reaction took place and I noted the results and the observations.

Results & Observations

Metals + Aqueous solutions Results

Copper + Magnesium sulphate ...

This is a preview of the whole essay

Method

I had placed the three pieces of the four different metals on a tile containing twelve holes.
Then I added the aqueous solution that is magnesium solution, iron solution, zinc solution & copper solution onto the different metals.
Then the reaction took place and I noted the results and the observations.

Results & Observations

Metals + Aqueous solutions Results

Copper + Magnesium sulphate No reactions
Copper + Iron sulphate No reactions
Copper + Zinc sulphate No reactions

Magnesium + Iron sulphate Bubbles were formed, it had a very fast and violent reaction, dissolves & changed in colour green.
Magnesium + Copper (II) sulphate Part of the magnesium ribbon dissolves, remaining of it became coated with layer of reddish brown copper metal.
Magnesium + Zinc sulphate It had a very slow reaction and after some time bubbles were coming out.

Iron + Magnesium sulphate No reactions
Iron + Copper sulphate Rust, change color brown.
Iron + Zinc sulphate No reactions

Zinc + Magnesium sulphate No reaction
Zinc + Iron sulphate No reaction
Zinc + Copper sulphate Change colour to black.

Conclusion

After doing this experiment and looking at the observations results, I can conclude that a metal who is positioned higher in the reactivity series will replace a metal that is positioned lower in the reactivity series. This displacement reaction is also known as redox reaction. And I would like to give an example:

In the reaction between magnesium and copper II sulphate, magnesium reduces the copper II ion, Cu , to copper and is itself oxidized to the magnesium ion, Mg . The ionic equation is as follows:

Mg(s) + Cu (aq) Mg (aq) + Cu(s)

Silver reddish brown

This experiment also allows us to see that a metal that is in higher position in the reactivity series is related to the tendency of the metal to form an + ion.

Peer Reviews

Here's what a star student thought of this essay

skatealexia

2nd of Mar 2012

Quality of writing

Spelling, punctuation and grammar okay, with no little to no mistakes seen. Could be a bit clearer in the presentation of results.

Level of analysis

Level of analysis could be deeper, adequate for the middle scale of this level and the understanding of displacement reactions and redox is clearly shown but I would like to see more detailed scientific analysis throughout. Could display additional skills such as graphs, or adding an evaluation of the experiment.

Response to question

Overall conclusion and body of the text are set out adequately for this level of qualification, but I would like to see the science of redox reactions explained more in the introduction. The introduction is set out okay but lacks the detailed scientific knowledge that I would like to see for this level. Main body and method are set out okay, with observations and the method noted clearly. In the main body I would like the student to explain why there was no reaction seen in certain instances, as this is due to no displacement of metals but the author does not demonstrate this simple fact. Conclusion is set out okay with a good equation to finish although I would like to see them use more examples from the main body of their coursework to support their conclusions, also could be worded slightly clearer.

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