Developing an Activity Series

Paper Summary:

The paper first lists the materials and procedures that were used in an experiment designed to determine how an activity series can be developed based on potential single displacement reactions with given metals and solutions. It then provides a table of the qualitative observations of the metals and solutions before the reaction occurred. The paper also presents a table of what happened during and after to the metals in the top row and solutions in the left column of a potential single displacement reaction when mixed together. The paper explains and discusses the conclusions drawn from these observations.

Outline:
Purpose
Introduction
Materials
Observations
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Observing potential single displacement reactions and examining to see if a chemical reaction actually occurred can develop an activity series. Based on the observations it can create an activity series because it is possible to see which metals are the most reactive. For example, in the experimental design that was used magnesium reacted with almost everything so it was evident that it should be near the top of the list. The metal that did not react with anything would mean that is the least reactive and it should be near the bottom of the activity series. To determine which metals will be in between the most and least reactive metal the individual reactions need to be looked at closer. The potential single displacement reaction can either occur or not occur based on which metal is higher in the activity series. This allows an activity series to be developed. Therefore, from most reactive to least reactive, the final activity series developed would be: magnesium, zinc, aluminum, iron and copper."

Sample of Sources Used:

• General Chemistry Online Date Accessed: March 9, 2009http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/redox/faq/activity-series.shtml
• Chemistry Date Accessed: March 9, 2009http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Single_displacement_reaction
• Jenkins, Dr. F, et. al., Chemistry 11, Nelson, Toronto, 2002, p. 125-126.

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