Lecture
Reaction of Metals with Acid Solutions
Reagents: magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, sulfuric acid solution.
Place the metals — magnesium, zinc, iron, copper — into four test tubes and add sulfuric acid solution to them (1 cm3 each).
Note the intensity of gas evolution.
Draw a conclusion about the chemical activity of the metals with respect to acids.
The gas evolved is hydrogen.
Mg + H₂SO₄ → MgSO₄ + H₂↑
Zn + H₂SO₄ → ZnSO₄ + H₂↑
Fe + H₂SO₄ → FeSO₄ + H₂↑
Cu + H₂SO₄ → no reaction occurs
The intensity of hydrogen evolution decreases in the series:
Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu
Consequently, the chemical activity of the metals with respect to acids decreases in the same order.
Metals located above hydrogen in the activity series displace it from acids, while copper does not react with dilute sulfuric acid.

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