Metal Reactivity (Redox) Lab

Procedure

1. Obtain 4 strips of each of the three metals being tested.
   
2. Clean the surface of each strip using sandpaper (to get only "bare" metal). Record observations of the metal's appearance.
   
3. Obtain a clean well plate and add the four solution into each row of the well (need 4 rows). See matrix below.
   
4. Add enough solution (by pipette) until the well is about 1/2 filled.
   
5. Add one piece of each metal in the same row (i.e. add 1 strip of copper into 4 different wells with each well have one of the 4 different solutions in the well. Observe the results for about 3-5minutes. If no reaction is observed, write NR in your data table. If you observe a reaction, record your observations.
   
6. Repeat with the 3 other metal strips (each metal into each of the 4 solutions).
   
7. Remove all the metal pieces, sandpaper the product off to get "base" metal again and put them back where you took them.
   
8. Dump all solutions into the waste container explained by your teacher.
   
9. Rinse well plate with tap water and dispose of in sink.
   
10. Invert well plate to rinse in the "Drying buckets" (not the "Drying racks").
    

Set up your own Data Table. Here is an example table,

Metal Reactivity (Redox) Lab Matrix
Solution/Metal	Cu	Mg	Zn	Pb
Cu1(NO3)2	____	____	____	____
Mg1(NO3)2	____	____	____	____
Zn1(NO3)2	____	____	____	____
Pb1(NO3)2	____	____	____	____

Calculation Section

1. Determine what is oxidized, what is reduced, oxidizing agent and reducing agent for each reaction that occurred (showing all appropriate work) and show work to balance the Redox reaction by Oxidation Number.

2. Using your knowledge of predicting single replacement reaction, determine if reaction should occur. If it does not explain why and if it does, show work to determine the balanced complete chemical reaction and show work to determine its net ionic reaction.

Questions/problem section Questions for Metal Reactivity (Redox) Lab