Partners:
Metal Reactivity: Single Replacement Reactions
Background
The purpose of this lab is to test the reactivity of four metals in several single replacement reactions. The outcomes of the reactions will be used to determine the rank of each metal in the activity series. Hypothesis: If the metal is able to react with the nitrate solution, then the pure element is higher on the activity series than the metal that is combined with the nitrate.
Materials
copper metal magnesium metal lead metal zinc metal
Cu(NO3)2 solution
Mg(NO3)2 solution
Zn(NO3)2 solution
Pb(NO3)2 solution
AgNO3 solution well plate forceps medicine dropper

Procedure
1. Using the well plate, you will mix various combinations of one metal with one aqueous solution. The four metals you will use are copper, magnesium, lead, and zinc. You will have aqueous solutions of copper (II) nitrate, magnesium nitrate, lead (II) nitrate, zinc nitrate, and silver nitrate.
2. Place one small piece of copper using the forceps in the first row, filling 5 wells across.
3. Repeat this for each of the other metals.
4. Put about 5 drops using the medicine dropper (or enough to cover the metal) of copper (II) nitrate solution in the first column.
5. Repeat this with 5 drops (or enough to cover the metal) of each of the other solutions.
6. Take observations of the contents of each well, paying close attention to the metal and the solution. Record observations.
7. Wait fifteen minutes and record observations again.

Data

Cu(NO3)2
Mg(NO3)2
Zn(NO3)2
Pb(NO3)2
AgNO3
Cu metal

NR
NR
NR
-solution turned muddy blue
-Cu became green
-fuzzy
-silver crystals
Mg metal
-turned solution green
-Mg looks spongy, blue
-solution looks frosty
-bubbling

NR
-black material formed around metal
-black material separated from Mg
-solution remained clear
-bubbling
-color change to muddy brown
-sandy appearance
Lead metal
-solution turned light blue
-Pb darkened
-slight bubbling
NR
NR

-Pb formed crystal structures
-cloudy
-black/murky solution
Zinc metal
-emerald green solution
-bubbling
-Zn is breaking down
NR

- metal is fuzzy, large clump
-gray
-Zn turned shiny when exposed to air
- Zn dissolved/broke down
-turned powdery
-silvery appearance
Data Table 1: Single Replacement Reaction Observations

Post Lab Questions
1. SEE DATA TABLE
2. balanced equations:
1. Mg(s)+Cu(NO3)2(aq)Mg(NO3)2(aq)+Cu
2. Pb(s)+Cu(NO3)2(aq)Pb(NO3)2(aq)+Cu
3. Zn(s)+Cu(NO3)2(aq)Zn(NO3)2(aq)+Cu
4. Mg(s)+Pb(NO3)2(aq)Mg(NO3)2(aq)+Pb
5. Zn(s)+Pb(NO3)2(aq)Zn(NO3)2(aq)+Pb
6.