Displacement Reaction

A series of free IGCSE Chemistry Activities and Experiments (Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry).

Displacement Reaction of Metals
In this experiment, you will investigate the reactions between metals and solutions of their salts.

Procedure:

1. Add 0.80 g of iron powder into a test tube. 2. Using a measuring cylinder, pour 6 cm³ of copper(II) sulfate solution into the test tube.
2. Take note of any change in temperature and change of colour of the solution.
3. Put the test tube in a centrifuge to separate the solid and liquid.

Fe + Cu(II)SO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu

Displacement of copper by magnesium
Copper Sulphate + Magnesium → Magnesium Sulphate + Copper

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Displacement of iron by zinc
Iron Sulphate + Zinc → Zinc Sulphate + Iron

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Questions A1 What would you expect to happen if the experiment was carried out using iron(II) sulfate solution and zinc powder? Explain your answer. A2 How could you improve the accuracy of your experiment?

Displacement Reactions - The Reactivity Series
Reaction of magnesium with magnesium sulphate, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, zinc sulphate
Reaction of copper with magnesium sulphate, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, zinc sulphate
Reaction of iron with magnesium sulphate, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, zinc sulphate
Reaction of zinc with magnesium sulphate, copper sulphate, iron sulphate, zinc sulphate

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1. Put the metals used in order from the least reactive to the most reactive. The more reactive metal will displace the other metal from the solution of its metal salt. 2. Chromium is more reactive than copper but less reactive than magnesium. Use this information to complete the following word equations: copper + chromium sulfate → magnesium + chromium sulfate → chromium + copper sulfate → 3. Describe how you could compare the reactivity of chromium with those of iron and zinc. 4. Give the ionic equations for at least four reactions and explain why they are redox reactions.

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