Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

172 DIY Science: Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

In this laboratory, we react aluminum metal with hydrochloric
acid to form aluminum(III) chloride and hydrogen gas. The
balanced equation for this reaction is:

2 Al(s) + 6 HCl(aq) → 2 AlCl 3 (aq) + 3 H 2 (g)

Element Displace H 2 from acids?Displace H 2 from steam?Displace H 2 from water?

Lithium l l l

Potassium l l l

Barium l l l

Calcium l l l

Sodium l l l

Strontium l l l

Magnesium l l ¢

Aluminum l l ¢

Manganese l l ¢

Zinc l l ¢

Chromium l l ¢

Iron l l ¢

Cadmium l l ¢

Cobalt l ¢ ¢

Nickel l ¢ ¢

Tin l ¢ ¢

Lead l ¢ ¢

Hydrogen - - -

Antimony ¢ ¢ ¢

Bismuth ¢ ¢ ¢

Copper ¢ ¢ ¢

Mercury ¢ ¢ ¢

Silver ¢ ¢ ¢

Platinum ¢ ¢ ¢

Gold ¢ ¢ ¢

TABLE 9-3: Reactivity series of common metals, from most to least reactive

We’ll observe the reaction and test for the presence of hydrogen

gas by using a burning splint. We also react iron metal with a

solution of copper sulfate to form iron(II) sulfate and copper

metal. The balanced equation for this reaction is:

fe(s) + CuSo 4 (aq) → Cu(s) + feSo 4 (aq)