Metals and the Reactivity Series

Experiments

• Displacement reactions between metals and their salts
  An experiment in which metals displace less reactive metals from solutions of their salts.
• Exothermic metal displacement reactions
  This experiment shows energy changes during reactions, the reactivity series of metals and the chemical behaviour of metals.
• Exothermic metal-acid reactions
  Measuring the rise in temperature in the exothermic reactions of metal powders with dilute acids.
• Extracting metals with charcoal
  This extraction experiment consists of two competition reactions in each of which a metal oxide is reacted with carbon, in the form of charcoal.
• Metals and acids
  This experiment shows how metals react with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas.
• The position of iron in the reactivity series
  This experiment involves a series of reactions that help identify the positions of iron in the reactivity series.
• The reaction between zinc and copper oxide
  An experiment to illustrate the difference in reactivity between zinc and copper and hence the idea of competition reactions.
• The reaction of magnesium with copper (II) oxide
  This experiment can be used to confirm the relative positions of magnesium and copper in the reactivity series.
• The real reactivitiy of aluminium
  In this demonstration the oxide coating on aluminium foil is removed with sodium hydroxide and mercury(II) chloride.  The exposed aluminium reacts rapidly with oxygen in the air to reform the oxide.
• The thermite reaction
  A classic demonstration illustrating competition between metals for oxygen. Aluminium powder reacts with iron(III) oxide in a spectacular manner.
• Where does carbon come in the reactivity series?
  This experiment helps to determine the position of carbon in the reactivity series.