Question

The student wants to place the following metals in order of reactivity: copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and lithium. Describe a method the student could follow to place the metals in order of reactivity Include equipment, clear instructions, safety precautions and a valid result in your plan

Answer 1

To determine the order of reactivity, the student can perform displacement reactions with metal sulfate solutions and observe the results.

Step-by-step explanation:

To place the metals in order of reactivity, the student can perform displacement reactions with solutions containing ions of the different metals. The more reactive metal will displace the less reactive metal from its solution. Here is a step-by-step method:

1. Prepare solutions of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and lithium sulfate.
2. Label each solution and set up five test tubes.
3. Place a small piece of the metal into each test tube.
4. Add the corresponding metal sulfate solution to each test tube.
5. Observe the reactions that occur and note any changes.
6. Record the order of reactivity based on the observations. The metal that displaces the most other metals is the most reactive, and the metal that is displaced by the most other metals is the least reactive.

Safety precautions: Wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and safety goggles. Handle the metals carefully to avoid injury. Dispose of the metals and solutions properly.

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