9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

Grade: X Sub: Chemistry

Experiment No. 3

Reactivity Series

Aim:

1. Observing the action of Zinc, Iron, and Copper and Aluminium metals for
the following salt solutions.
a. Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4)
b. Copper sulphate (CuSO4)
c. Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4)
d. Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3)
2. Arranging the metals Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Aluminium in the
decreasing order of reactivity based on the results obtained from the
above.

Materials Required:

Aluminium foil, Zinc granules, Copper turnings, Iron filings, Copper

sulphate solution, Aluminium sulphate solution, Zinc sulphate solution, four
50ml beakers, Test tube, Test tube stand

Theory:

What is reactivity series?

Different metals have different reactivities with chemical reagents. The metals
that form positive ions by losing electrons more readily. A more reactive metal
displaces a less reactive metal from salt solution. Such reactions are
called displacement reactions. Consider an example; if a small amount of Zinc
is dipped in Copper sulphate solution, Zinc is displaced from Copper sulphate.
The blue colour of Copper sulphate fades and colourless Zinc sulphate solution
is obtained. Therefore, Zinc is more reactive than Copper.

Aluminium has the ability to displace Zinc, Iron, Copper from their respective
salt solutions and therefore is more reactive than them.
Reactions:
 9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

2Al(s) + 3ZnSO4 (aq) →Al2 (SO4)3 3Zn(s)

2Al(s) + 3FeSO4 (aq) → Al2 (SO4)3 3Fe(s)
2Al(s) + 3CuSO4 (aq) →Al2 (SO4)3 3Cu(s)

Zinc has the ability to displace Iron, Copper from their respective salt solutions
and therefore is more reactive than them.
Reactions:
Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
Zn(s) + FeSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Fe(s)
Zn(s) + Al2 (SO4)3(aq) → no reaction
Zn(s) + ZnSO4 (aq) →no reaction

Iron has the ability to displace Copper from its salt solution and therefore is
more reactive when compared to Cu.
Reactions:
Fe(s) + CuSO4 (aq) →FeSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
Fe(s) + FeSO4 (aq) →no reaction
Fe(s) + Al2 (SO4)3(aq) →no reaction
Fe(s) + ZnSO4 (aq) →no reaction
No reaction occurs when any of the metals from Zinc, Iron, Aluminium, and
Copper are placed in aqueous solution of Al2 (SO4)3.
Therefore, from the above, we can conclude the reactivity of elements in the
following order –

a) Aluminium is more reactive than Zinc.

b) Zinc is more reactive than Fe.
c) Fe is more reactive than Cu.
Hence, Aluminium is the most reactive and Copper being the least reactive
metal.
 9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

The below table gives you an understanding of the colors exhibited by the
metals and their salts:

Compound name Formula Colour

Aluminium sulphate Al2(SO4)3 Colorless

Copper sulphate CuSO4 Blue

Zinc sulphate ZnSO4 Colorless

Ferrous sulphate FeSO4 Light green

Copper Cu Reddish brown

Aluminium Al White

Zinc Zn Silver white

Iron Fe Blackish grey

Experimental setup:
 9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

Procedure:

1. Wash four beakers with distilled water, dry them and label them A, B, C, D.
2. Prepare 50 mL solution with 5% concentration by volume of Ferrous
sulphate, Aluminium sulphate, Copper sulphate, Zinc sulphate.
3. Pour ZnSO4 in beaker A, FeSO4 in beaker B, CuSO4 in beaker C, Add
Al2(SO4)3 in beaker D.
4. Wash four test tubes with distilled water and dry them.
5. Put them in a test tube stand and label them as P, Q, R, and S as shown in
the figure above.
6. Take 10 mL of the saturated Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4), Copper sulphate
(CuSO4), Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), and Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3 ) in
the test tube as shown in the figure.
7. Take metal strips of Aluminium (Al), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), and Zinc
(Zn). Clean them with sandpaper before using it in the experiment.
8. Now dip one of the four metal strips in all the four test tubes and observe if
any colour change occurs in all four test tubes.
9. Continue step 8 with other metal strips by dipping in fresh aqueous
solutions of metals and see the displacement reaction.

Observations :
 9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

Metal Dipped in Observation

Al ZnSO4 No change in the solution. Zinc metal which is greyish accumulates on

Aluminium metal.

Al CuSO4 Blue solution becomes colorless. Copper metal which appears reddish brown
gets accumulated.

Al Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Al FeSO4 Green solution becomes colorless. Iron metal which appears greyish black
gets accumulated.

Fe ZnSO4 No reaction.

Fe CuSO4 Solution becomes light green. Copper metal which appears reddish brown
gets accumulated.

Fe Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Fe FeSO4 No reaction.

Zn ZnSO4 No reaction.

Zn CuSO4 Blue solution turns colourless. Reddish brown Coppers accumulate on Zinc
metal.

Zn Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Zn FeSO4 Light green solution turns colourless. Greyish black iron accumulates on zinc
metal.

Cu ZnSO4 No reaction.

Cu CuSO4 No reaction.

Cu Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Cu FeSO4 No reaction.
Inference:

Metals Inference

Aluminium Aluminium displaces zinc, copper, and iron from their solutions.
 9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073

Aluminium is the most reactive metal.

Zinc Zinc displaces copper, and iron from their solutions. Zinc is more reactive
than Cu and Fe metal.

Iron Iron displaces copper from its solution. Therefore, copper is less reactive
than iron.

Copper Copper does not displace any metal therefore it is the least reactive.

The decreasing order of reactivity of metals is as follows:

Al

Zn

Fe

Cu

Precautions:

1. Use cleanly washed and dried apparatus for the experiment.

2. Clean the metals before dipping them in the solution. You can clean it with
sandpaper.
3. Use small quantities of Aluminium sulphate, Iron sulphate, Copper sulphate
and Copper sulphate solutions for the experiment.
4. Handle the chemicals with care and do not allow them to come in contact
with your skin.
5. Make sure you wash the test tubes after every observation.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly after the experiment as the salt solutions are
poisonous.
9th Mile Stone, Bagalagunte, Bangalore-560073