Calorimetry Lab Report Results

In this experiment, we used acquired observational data to develop an activity series describing the relative reactivity of the metals being tested. The elements within a periodic table often show different trends in physical and chemical properties depending on the period or group they are apart of. In a periodic table, elements are arranged by increasing atomic number in horizontal rows called periods. The atomic numbers represent the number of protons in each element. The periodic table is also arranged such that elements with similar properties are in vertical columns known as groups.
Some groups have assigned distinct names. For example, the elements in Group 1 are alkali metals. The elements in Groups two are alkaline metals. Group seventeen …show more content…
Nitrate solutions of barium, calcium, magnesium, and strontium were mixed with solutions containing the sulfate, carbonate, oxalate, and iodate polyatomic anions. Any changes that indicate a chemical reaction such as a color change, the formation of a precipitate, or the evolution of a gas should be noted. Each mixture contained five drops of the nitrate solution being tested, mixed with five drops of the solutions containing sulfate, carbonate, oxalate, or iodate. After mixing, the observation of chemical change was …show more content…
By simply comparing the reactions that occurred when each metal was added to HCl, we are able to rank the reactions. Metals that reacted with HCl to produce hydrogen gas would be considered more active that those that exhibited no reaction. Therefore, the metal that reacted the most vigorously in acid would be the most reactive metal. In addition, the metal that displayed no reaction when added to all of the different metal solutions would be considered the least active metal. Our group decided on Cu < Sn < Fe < Zn < Mg < Ca. Copper showed no reaction, hence the least active metal. Calcium reacted the most vigorously and therefore is the most active