The Activity Series. Aim - To determine the relative activity of several metals

Dependent: Reactivity of each metal

Independent:

METHOD

1. Set up 8 test tubes in a test tube rack
2. Fill ¾ of each test tube with water
3. Place some of each metal into a test tube, and observe any changes
4. If any metals react, put them on the side as they will no longer be used.
5. Dispose the contents of each test tube and refill them with ¾  HCl acid
6. Add some of each of the metals that did not previously react into a test tube, and observe and changes
7. If any metals react, put them on the side as they will no longer be used.
8. Finally, add some of each of the materials that did not previously react into a beaker with either copper sulphate, and observe any changes.

RESULTS

Reaction with water

Reaction with HCl

Displacement Reaction

Therefore the least reactive metal is copper.

EVALUATION

From the results we can see that the activity of the metals is as follows (most to least reactive):

Calcium → Magnesium → Zinc → Iron → Tin → Lead → Copper

CONCLUSION

During this investigation, I was able to accurately determine the reactivity series of various metals.