Explore 2: What reactions occur between metals and solutions of metal ions?
11. (Work in pairs or groups for this phase.) Add a small piece of calcium metal
to each of 7 test tubes containing, respectively, about 0.5 mL of Ca(NO
)
, CuSO
,
3
2
4
FeSO
, Fe(NO
)
, Mg(NO
)
, SnCl
, and Zn(NO
)
solutions. Note any reaction that
4
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
occurs by observing whether a color change occurs on the surface of the metal or
in the solution or whether a gas is evolved. Pay close attention to whether not the
Ca dissolves (because there may be other side reactions). Record your
observations in the calcium row of the table provided.
2+
2+
3+
2+
2+
4+
2+
Ca
Cu
Fe
Fe
Mg
Sn
Zn
Metal
ions
Metal
Soln changed
Ca dissolved
Ca dissolved to
Ca dissolved –
Ca dissolved;
Ca dissolved
from blue to
to give dirty
give a dirty green
milky white
milky soln
white ppt
Ca
green as Ca
green soln
soln and a brn-red
suspension
formed
formed
dissolved
precipitate
formed
N.R.
N.R.
N.R.
N.R.
N.R.
N.R.
Cu
N.R.
Very slow
N.R.
Slow reaction
N.R.
reaction
Fe
N.R
Soln was
Mg slowly
Mg dissolved very
Mg dissolved
Mg
darker and
dissolved as
slowly
and dark gray
Dissolved
Mg
black ppt
rust ppts
ppt formed
formed on Mg
N.R
Very slow
N.R.
N.R
N.R.
Very little
reaction
reaction
Sn
N.R. Zn turned black Zn dissolved
Almost no reaction
N.R.
Zn dissolved
slowly and a
slowly
Zn
brn-red ppt
formed
12. After completing each series of reactions dispose of the contents of your test
tubes in the designated containers.
13. Write both complete and net ionic equations for the reaction that occurs
between calcium metal and tin(IV) tetrachloride.
2Ca(s) + SnCl
(aq) → 2CaCl
(aq) + Sn(s)
4
2
4+
2+
2Ca(s) + Sn
(aq) → 2Ca
(aq) + Sn(s)
14. Repeat the preceding process by adding a small piece of copper to another 0.5
mL of each of the metal-cation solutions. Record your observations on the table
provided above.