#Zinc reactivity series#

Metal + Hydrochloric Acid Hydrogen + Metal Chloride The products made in the reaction between the metal and the acid is Metal Chloride + Hydrogen. The equation for an exothermic reaction is “ Since the total energy of the products is less than that of the reactants, we say that the heat change for this reaction is negative.” (From Chemistry Counts by Graham Hill) After a while, the temperature of the products falls to room temperature, as the heat is lost to the surroundings. It gives out extra energy in the form of heat and the temperature of the mixture rises. In an exothermic reaction the energy, which is released, is more than the energy needed to break the atoms. When the product is made energy is released when the atoms recombine. Heat is given out because energy is needed to make the particles break. Exothermic reactions will give out heat energy the most reactive metal will give the most heat. The reactants also give out heat when reacting with the acid this is called an exothermic reaction. Magnesium reacts and forms its ions whilst other metals are displaced from the solution. The experiment confirms that magnesium is more reactive than the other metals. The most reactive is the metal, which displaces the most of the solutions. The table shows how the metal displaces the metals they are reacting with. This table is a secondary source of scientific evidence. “If zinc can displace hydrogen fro H+ ions in acid, then it may be able to displace metals from solutions of various metal ions.” (From Chemistry Counts by Graham Hill)įrom the table below I will show how I think the order of reactivity will be. The zinc will displace hydrogen from the acid. Zn + H 2 SO 4 ZnSO 4 + H 2 (From Chemistry Counts by Graham Hill)

#Zinc reactivity series#

Metals above copper in the reactivity series reacted to form a salt and hydrogen. Elements such as copper, which has a low reactivity, join with other elements only with weak bonds. Elements that are reactive join to other elements with strong bonds.

A more reactive element is displacing a less reactive element from its compound. Also copper is below hydrogen in the periodic table so its less reactive than hydrogen. Hydrogen is above copper in the reactivity series so copper doesn’t displace. In displacement reactions the metal displaces the hydrogen from the acid.

This is because all the other metals will displace hydrogen and copper doesn’t. I think that this will be the order of reactivity:Īll metals will react except copper. I predict that calcium will be the most reactive because of its position in the periodic table and copper will also be the least reactive. The aim of the investigation is to place five metals- zinc, iron, magnesium, calcium and copper- in order of reactivity based on the heat they give out when they react with dilute hydrochloric acid. Investigating The Reactivity Of The Metals Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper And Calcium And Their Reaction With Hydrochloric Acid.