EXPERIMENT #3: METALS

All the things around us are made of 100 or so elements. These elements were classified by Lavoisier in
to metals and non-metals by studying their properties. The metals and non-metals differ in their
properties.

Main Group: Al, Ga, In, Sn, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po

Alkali Metals: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr

Alkaline Earth Metals: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra

General Physical Properties of Metals

• Metals have shiny appearance and they show a metallic luster

• Metals are mostly harder to cut which varies from one metal to another

• Metals are malleable which means that metals can be hammered and beaten into thinner

sheets.

• Metals are ductile which means that they can be drawn into thin wires. Most metals are

ductile. Wires are made from copper, aluminum, iron and magnesium.

• Metals are good conductors of electricity and heat.

• Metals are generally sonorous which means that they make a ringing sound when struck.

• Metals are very strong that is why they are widely used in the construction of buildings,

bridges, railways, vehicles and machinery.

• Metals, except mercury, are solid at room temperature.

• Metals have high melting points.

• Metals have high tensile strength so that they can be stretched to some degree without

breaking.
 Metals Physical State Appearance Color Hardness

Na solid irregular shape gray soft

Mg solid strip gray flexible

Zn solid irregular shape gray Very hard

Fe solid irregular shape gray Very hard

Cu solid irregular shape reddish brown flexible

General Physical Properties of Metals

• Metals when burned in the presence of oxygen (in air) combine with oxygen to form

metallic oxides which are basic in nature.

• Metals react differently with water.

(1) sodium reacts violently with water forming sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas

- rapid reaction occurs and popping sound is produced when exposed to the flame

due to the release of hydrogen gas

Word Chemical Equation:

solid sodium + liquid water → aqueous sodium hydroxide + hydrogen gas

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Na(s) + H2O(l) → NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

When added with methyl orange turns to yellow and when added with
phenolphthalein turns to pink since sodium hydroxide is basic.
(2) magnesium has no reaction with cold water but reacts slowly with hot water to give

hydrogen gas and white magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas

Word Chemical Equation:

solid magnesium + hot water → solid magnesium hydroxide + hydrogen gas

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Mg(s) + H2O(l) +  → Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

The color of the water turns pink upon the addition of phenolphthalein indicating
that the magnesium hydroxide formed is basic.

Magnesium hydroxide is a solid substance that is insoluble in water. It will form a

barrier on the surface of the magnesium and will prevent further reaction.

• Theoretically, zinc and iron are not reactive enough with water so more energy is

needed to be added for a reaction to take place

(3) zinc does not react with hot or cold water but reacts quite slowly with steam

THEORETICAL

Word Chemical Equation:

solid zinc + hot or cold water → no reaction

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Zn(s) + H2O(l) → NR

ACTUAL EXPERIMENT

Word Chemical Equation:

solid zinc + hot water → zinc hydroxide + hydrogen gas

Balanced Chemical Equation:

ZnO(s) + H2O(l) +  → ZnOH(aq) + H2(g)

 In the experiment, zinc reacts with water form the basic zinc hydroxide which causes
the pink color of the solution. There is a reaction because the surface of the metallic
zinc reacts with the oxygen of the air in the presence of water to form zinc hydroxide.

(4) iron does not react with hot or cold water but reacts slowly with steam

THEORETICAL

Word Chemical Equation:

solid iron + hot or cold water → no reaction

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Fe(s) + H2O(l) → NR

ACTUAL EXPERIMENT

Word Chemical Equation:

solid iron + hot water → ferric hydroxide + hydrogen gas

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Fe(s) + H2O(l) → Fe(OH)3(aq) + H2(g)

In the experiment, zinc reacts with water to form the basic ferric hydroxide which
causes the pink color of the solution. There is a reaction because the surface of the
iron nail reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form ferric hydroxide.

(5) copper does not react with hot or cold water and even steam

Word Chemical Equation:

solid copper + water → no reaction

Balanced Chemical Equation:

Cu(s) + H2O(l) → NR
• Metals replace other metals

- their capability to replace another metal is based on the activity series of metals:

Li K Ca Na Mg Al Zn Cr Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Pt Au

- they can only replace another metal if they are more active than that metal

- The reactivity of a metal is a measure of how easily it will give up electrons to other

atoms. The more reactive the easier it is to give up electrons.

• Single Displacement/Replacement/Substitution Reaction

- is a chemical reaction in which a free element replaces the other element from a
compound

- General form: A + BC → AC + B

SOLUTIONS

METALS MgCl2 FeCl3 ZnCl2 CuSO4

+
Fe – – – reddish brown
particles

Cu – – – –

+
+
Zn – – reddish brown
red particles
particles

+
+ +
Mg – reddish brown
red particles gray particles
particles

(a) when iron, copper, zinc and magnesium were dropped into test tubes containing

magnesium chloride, no reaction occurs because none of them is more active than

magnesium

Fe(s) + MgCl2 → NR Cu(s) + MgCl2 → NR

Zn(s) + MgCl2 → NR Mg(s) + MgCl2 → NR

(b) when iron, copper, zinc and magnesium were dropped into test tubes containing zinc

chloride, only magnesium reacts since it is the only metal that is more active than

zinc

Fe(s) + ZnCl2(aq) → NR

Cu(s) + ZnCl2(aq) → NR

Zn(s) + ZnCl2(aq) → NR

Mg(s) + ZnCl2(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + Zn(s)

gray particles

(c) when iron, copper, zinc and magnesium were dropped into test tubes containing

ferric chloride, only magnesium and zinc reacts since it is they are the only two

metals that are more active than iron

Fe(s) + FeCl3(aq) → NR

Cu(s) + FeCl3(aq) → NR

Zn(s) + FeCl3(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + Fe(s)

red particles

Mg(s) + FeCl3(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + Fe(s)

red particles

(d) when iron, copper, zinc and magnesium were dropped into test tubes containing

cupric chloride, only copper has no reaction

Fe(s) + CuSo4(aq) → FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

reddish brown
particles
Cu(s) + CuSo4(aq) → NR

Zn(s) + CuSo4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

reddish brown
particles
Mg(s) + CuSo4(aq) → MgSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
reddish brown
particles
CORROSION OF METALS

– involves oxidation-reduction reaction

• ReDox reactions refers to the change of oxidation number of the element in a chemical

reaction due to the transfer of electrons

OXIDATION REDUCTION

Oxidation number increase: Oxidation number decrease:

Na → Na1+ + 1e- Na1+ + 1e- → Na

Loss of electron/s Gain of electron/s

Oxidized substance Reduced substance

Reducing agent/reducer Oxidizing agent/oxidizer

OIL RDG

• Rust is hydrated iron (III) oxide, Fe2O3•xH2O which is formed slowly at the surface of

iron when it is exposed to damp air.

• Rusting is a redox reaction that take places between iron and oxygen to form hydrated iron

(III) oxide. This is a slow reaction.

4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) + 2xH2O(l) → Fe2O3•xH2O(s)

• Corrosion is a redox reaction that take places between a metal and the gases in air. Metal is

oxidised to form an oxide layer on the surface. Metal atoms lose electrons to form positive

ions.

➢ Group 1 metals are very reactive.

➢ Metals are exposed to air will corrode rapidly and become tarnished.
 ➢ Aluminium, lead and zinc corrode rapidly in the air and forms an oxide layer. The oxide

layer is hard, non-porous, impermeable and difficult to crack. This protects the

aluminium, lead and zinc below it from further corrosion.

➢ Example: Corrosion of metal. Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e

Cu(s) → Cu2+(aq) + 2e

K N Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb Cu Hg Ag Au
Tendency of metal to corrode decreases from left to right

• The process of Rusting

(a) iron is oxidized to iron(II) ions, Fe2+

oxidation half-reaction: Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) + 2e-

Fe2+(aq) causes the blue or green or blue green color.

(b) and oxygen from the air is reduced to hydroxide ions, OH–

reduction half-reaction: O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- → 4 OH–(aq)

OH– (aq) causes the pink color.

Combining equations (a) and (b)

oxidation half-reaction: Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq) + 2e-

reduction half-reaction: O2(g) + 2H2O(l) + 4e- → 4 OH–(aq)

2Fe(s) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 2Fe2+(aq) + 4 OH–(aq)

➢ Fe2+ and OH– ions may combine to form solid iron (II) hydroxide, Fe(OH)2(s)

Fe2+(aq) + 2 OH–(aq) → Fe(OH)2(s)

➢ Fe(OH)2 reacts further with oxygen and water to form hydrated iron (III) oxide, Fe2O3•

nH2O which is the rust.

4Fe(OH)2(s) + 3 O2(g) +2x H2O(l) → 2Fe2O3• xH2O(s)

rust
IN THE EXPERIMENT

• Potassium hexacyanoferrate, K3Fe(CN)6,

2+
− is used to detect the presence of Fe forming a blue or green or blue green color in the

region where oxidation of the iron is taking place. That is where iron is losing electrons.

− it reacts with Fe2+ ions to form a dark blue mixed iron(II)/iron(III) compound,

Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2, commonly known as Prussian blue

3Fe2+(aq) + 2Fe(CN)63–(aq) → Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2(s)

− Phenolphthalein turns pink in the region where oxygen is taking electrons.

➢ When iron is in contact with a more reactive metal, this metal will oxidize (rusted) and will

protect the iron from corrosion so that iron will not rust.

➢ When iron is in contact with a less reactive metal, corrosion of the iron by oxidation will

occur and iron nail will rust quickly.

• Nail : Iron is oxidized but experiences less corrosion compared to bent nail

Fe → Fe 2+ + 2e–

• Bent Nail : iron nail is cracked and stressed so that corrosion occurs rapidly

Fe → Fe 2+ + 2e–

(a) Bending the nail causes the oxidation at the bend to be greater than the rest of the
nails. The bent area and the head oxidize most readily

(b) In the bent area and the head, there is more surface area for the iron to oxidize and
the structure becomes weaker and stressed.

• Nail wrapped with Cu wire :

When iron is in contact with a less reactive metal, Cu, corrosion of the iron by oxidation

occurs: Fe → Fe 2+ + 2e–
 • Nail coated with mossy zinc:

When iron is in contact with a more reactive metal, Zn, it is oxidized (rusted) protecting

the iron from corrosion: Zn → Zn2+ + 2e–

• PREVENTION OF IRON FROM RUSTING

➢ The rate of rusting of iron decreases if the iron (Fe) in contact with any of these metals: K,

Na, Ca, Mg, Al and Zn.

➢ The rate of rusting of iron increases if the iron (Fe) in contact with any of these metals:

Sn, Pb, Cu, Hg, Ag and Au.

➢ Methods used to prevent rusting:

1) Painting – Protect iron surface (prevent from contacting with air and water)

2) Coat with plastic – Used in metal netting

3) Apply oil and grease – Protective coating for machine part

4) Alloying the iron – Alloying the iron with 18% chromium and 8% nickel that provide

a protective oxide coating.

(a) Tin plating (less electropositive metal) – Cans of food (iron) is covered with a

thin layer of tin to provide a protective oxide coating to the cans.

(b) Chrome plating

5) Cathodic protection / Electrical protection (more electropositive metal)

(a) Galvanising (coat with zinc metal) – Zinc layer provides a protective oxide

coating and zinc is oxidized instead of iron. Iron cannot form ions, so it will not

rust.

(b) Sacrificial protection – Blocks of magnesium are attached at the intervals of the

water piping system & zinc bars are attached to the part of the ship submerged

in sea water.
• ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1) Which parts of the straight nail (the control) oxidized most readily? What evidence

supports this? Suggest a possible reason for the observation.

- Oxidation of iron appeared to originate at two sites—the head and the tip of the nail.

- The evidence for this is the location of blue areas in the gel where Fe 2+ ions were

produced. Oxidation originates at points on the nail that have been “stressed” in the

manufacturing process.

- Metalworking causes dislocation of iron atoms and creates defects in the crystal

structure.

2) Compare the results obtained for the bent nail versus the straight nail control. Did

bending the nail change where oxidation of the metal was most likely to start or the

amount of rust that was observed? Explain.

Bending the nail changed the location at which oxidation originated. The blue color due

to reaction of Fe2+ ions with ferricyanide indicator began at the 90° bend in the nail and

proceeded in either direction away from the bend. The head and the tip of the nail were

surrounded by pink areas in the gel, indicating the presence of OH– ions. Both nails were

covered with rust after 24 hours.

3) According to the electrochemical model for iron corrosion, the corrosion process takes

place via two separate half reactions. Electrons flow through the metal, like electricity

through a wire, from the site where iron is oxidized to the site where oxygen is reduced.

Do the indicator color changes support this model for iron corrosion?

The indicator color changes suggest that oxidation and reduction occur at different sites

on the nail—there are distinct and separate blue and pink regions in the gel. The blue

areas indicate the presence of Fe2+ ions due to oxidation of iron atoms. The pink regions

indicate the presence of OH– ions due to reduction of oxygen in the presence of water.