OBJECTIVES

1. To observe and predict products of oxidation reaction reactions.

2. To determine the relative reactivity of a series of metallic elements.
 MATERIAL

CHEMICALS

Copper metal, Magnesium ribbon, Zinc metal, Steel wool, 0.1 M CuSO 4 , 3 M
H2SO4 acid, 0.1 M ZnSO4 , 0.01 M KMnO4 , 0.01 M K2Cr2O4 , 0.1 M Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2 ,
0.1 M K2C2O4 , 6 M H2SO4 acid, deionised water

APPARATUS

Test tubes, dropper, beakers, lighted splint and waste container

METHODS

PART A

Metals as reducing agents

1. 4 test tubes of 15 ml were labelled.

2. 1 cm2 piece of copper metal was put into first test tube
3. 2 cm of magnesium ribbon was put into second test tube
4. 1 cm2 of zinc metal was put into third test tube
5. A small ball steel wool into fourth test tube
6. A few millimetres f 0.1 M CuSO4 was added to each test tube. (Balanced
the equation if there is reaction. Wrote no reaction if no reaction occur)
7. The used metal squares were discarded into waste container
8. The test tubes were rinsed with deionised water. The new metal squares
were tested as before by using 3 M H2SO4 acid.
9. A lighted splint was held over any test tubes which bubbling occurred.
10.The test tubes were cleaned. Each metal square was tested with the same
way as before with 0.1 M ZnSO4 solution.

PART B

Redox Reactions

1. 4 small test tubes of 3 ml were cleaned and labelled.

2. 1 ml of each solution listed as Solution X in Table 5.1 were added into test
tubes
3. 1 ml of solution Y was slowly added to each test tube. The permanent
changes were observed.
4. The observations of any mixtures that showed any reaction were recorded
5. Balanced equations were recorded. Oxidizing agents were underlined.
6. Test tubes were disposed into waste container and rinsed with tap water.
 RESULTS

Test tubes no. 0.1 M CuSo4 3 M H2SO4 0.1 M ZnSO4

1. Cu NR NR NR

Pop sound
Mg is produced. Only little
completely Mg Mg is
2. Mg corrosive completely corroded
Bubble dissolve in Bubble
produced H2SO4 produced
solution
Black
precipitate
was
formed
Solutions
colour
Metal colour
change
3. Zn changes from NR
from
silver to black
colourless
to grey
The
solution
become
hot
Metal Metal
colour colour
changes change
4. Steel wool from silver from silver NR
to brown to black
Metal Bubble
corroded produced

Balanced Equation

CuSO4 + Cu NR
CuSO4 + Mg MgSO4 + Cu
CuSO4 + Zn ZnSO4 + Cu
CuSO4 + Fe FeSO4 + Cu

H2SO4 + Cu CuSO4 + H2
H2SO4 + Mg MgSO4 + H2
H2SO4 + Zn ZnSO4 + H2
 H2SO4 + Fe FeSO4 + H2

ZnSO4 + Cu CuSO4 + Zn
ZnSO4 + Mg MgSO4 + Zn
ZnSO4 + Zn NR
ZnSO4 + Fe FeSO4 + Zn

From the best to the poorest reducing agent

i. Magnesium, Mg
ii. Zinc, Zn
iii. Iron (II), Fe
iv. Copper, Cu

PART B

Observations and redox reaction

Test tubes Solution X
( 0.1 M Fe(NH4)2
0.1 M K2C2O4
(SO4)
0.01 M of KMnO4
Colour changes
+
1. from purple to
2 drops of 6 M
brown
H2SO4
0.01 M of KMnO4
Colour changes
+
2. from purple to
2 drops of 6 M
colourless
H2SO4
0.01 M of K2C2O4
Colour changes
+
3. from orange to pale
2 drops of 6 M
yellow
H2SO4
0.01 M of K2C2O4
+
4. NR
2 drops of 6 M
H2SO4