Displacement reactions
Discussion
The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity based on displacement reactions, reduction of their oxides by hydrogen or carbon, the relative ease of decomposition of their compounds and reactions with oxygen, dilute acids and water. The higher up a metal is in the reactivity series, the more reactive it is. In the experiment conducted, the three metals, magnesium, zinc and copper each had to undergo displacement reactions and reactions with water, oxygen and dilute acids, to arrange them in the order of their reactivity.
Generally, the more easily a metal burns in air to form an oxide, the higher up it is in the reactivity series. It was observed that both zinc and magnesium burned in air to form their corresponding metal oxides (magnesium oxide and zinc oxide) but copper did not undergo any such reaction. As such, this proves that magnesium and zinc are higher up in the reactivity series than copper.
Magnesium, copper and zinc were also tested with hydrochloric acid (reaction with dilute acid). Magnesium and zinc both underwent reactions with the dilute acid and were each able to produce metal salts (magnesium chloride and zinc chloride respectively). As such, it can be said that both of them are very reactive metals. Copper however, did not undergo any reaction with the dilute acid, indicating that it is not as reactive. It can therefore be said, again, that magnesium and zinc are higher up in the reactivity series than copper.
In addition, the three metals were tested, using displacement reactions to derive the level of their reactivity. Displacement reactions occur between metals and solutions of metal salts. A metal will displace another metal which is lower than itself in the reactivity series from a solution of the metal salt. When magnesium was placed separately in the copper sulphate solution and zinc sulphate solution, it was able to displace both the copper and zinc (in the copper sulphate solution and
The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity based on displacement reactions, reduction of their oxides by hydrogen or carbon, the relative ease of decomposition of their compounds and reactions with oxygen, dilute acids and water. The higher up a metal is in the reactivity series, the more reactive it is. In the experiment conducted, the three metals, magnesium, zinc and copper each had to undergo displacement reactions and reactions with water, oxygen and dilute acids, to arrange them in the order of their reactivity.
Generally, the more easily a metal burns in air to form an oxide, the higher up it is in the reactivity series. It was observed that both zinc and magnesium burned in air to form their corresponding metal oxides (magnesium oxide and zinc oxide) but copper did not undergo any such reaction. As such, this proves that magnesium and zinc are higher up in the reactivity series than copper.
Magnesium, copper and zinc were also tested with hydrochloric acid (reaction with dilute acid). Magnesium and zinc both underwent reactions with the dilute acid and were each able to produce metal salts (magnesium chloride and zinc chloride respectively). As such, it can be said that both of them are very reactive metals. Copper however, did not undergo any reaction with the dilute acid, indicating that it is not as reactive. It can therefore be said, again, that magnesium and zinc are higher up in the reactivity series than copper.
In addition, the three metals were tested, using displacement reactions to derive the level of their reactivity. Displacement reactions occur between metals and solutions of metal salts. A metal will displace another metal which is lower than itself in the reactivity series from a solution of the metal salt. When magnesium was placed separately in the copper sulphate solution and zinc sulphate solution, it was able to displace both the copper and zinc (in the copper sulphate solution and