Properties Of Metals Lab

Safety Precautions
• Do not carry any metals in your hands
• Goggles must be worn at all times during the lab exercise
• When testing for gases, do not point the test tube toward yourself or any other
person
• Place the lid on the reagent bottle IMMEDIATELY after obtaining chemicals
• Make sure the reaction has completely finished before discarding liquid

Part A: Prelab Preparation DUE Thursday, October 19, 2006

Complete the following charts in your lab notebook. Prepare a second table
which has provisions for all observations. Write out all questions (leave space
for answers).
HAVE PRELAB READY FOR INSPECTION BEFORE LAB BEGINS.

Positive tests for Gases- Flammability

Substance Test Result
Oxygen Gas
Hydrogen Gas
Carbon dioxide Gas

Indicator Color in Acid Color in Base

Bromothymol Blue
Phenolphthalein
Litmus

Part B: Alkaline Earth Metals

1. Obtain a piece of calcium on a watch glass.
2. Fill 2 large test tubes with approximately ¼ full of COLD water.
3. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator.
4. After taking qualitative observations of a piece of calcium metal, place into test
tube.
5. Test the gas produced (if any) with a burning splint.
6. Take at least 4 qualitative observations during the reaction.
7. Repeat procedures 1 to 5 for a strip of magnesium. Record at least 2 qualitative
observations for magnesium (hint- look carefully at the test tube).

Part C: Alkali Metals

1. Obtain a piece of lithium metal.
2. Fill 2 large test tubes with approximately ¼ full of COLD water.
3. Add 3 drops of phenolphthalein indicator.
4. After taking qualitative observations of a piece of lithium metal, place into test
tube. Test the gas produced (if any) with a burning splint.
 5. Take at least 4 qualitative observations during the reaction.
6. Repeat procedures 1 to 5 for a small piece of sodium metal and potassium metal.

Make qualitative observations for each of the three metals being placed in water
based on the following:
a) shape of the metal
b) movement of the metal
c) relationship of the metal with the surface of the water
d) result of the indicator and gas test

Questions:
1. What gas is produced when calcium is added to water? How do you know this?
2. Is the remaining liquid in all the reactions acidic or basic? How do you know this?
3. Between calcium and magnesium, which is more reactive with water?
4. Write full electron configurations for calcium and magnesium. How many
electrons does each have in their highest energy level?
5. Which of the two metals in question 4 has its highest energy electrons closest to
the nucleus?
6. Write full electron configurations for Li, Na, and K. Rate these 3 metals on order
of their activity during reaction with water.
7. Which metal in question 6 has its valence electrons closest to the nucleus? How is
this related to question 6 above (i.e., reactivity)?
8. Make some predictions about the behavior of
a) Cesium (i.e., More or less reactive than Li, Na, and K? Why?)
b) Barium (i.e., More or less reactive than Ca and Mg? Why?)

Discussion Questions
1. What happens to the reactivity of metals as one moves down the
periodic table? How is this related to the valence electrons?

2. Based on your observations, what are some general properties of

metals?

Notes for Reactions of Metals lab.

Find answers to the chart above. Review the procedures for testing metals from
the first two groups on the periodic table.

LAB Report is due Tuesday, October 24, 2006. Any student who
does not have a completed Prelab ready for inspection will not be allowed to
participate in the lab. Horseplay, conversation between pods, and
any other disruptive behavior will result in dismissal from the lab with a
grade of zero.
DO NOT CALL OUT MY NAME DURING LAB. RAISE YOUR HAND!!!!
Generic Rubric For Formal Lab Reports

This format will be followed for all lab reports that are not self-contained in your lab
workbook.

Formal lab reports follow this format:

Name and period

Title of Experiment
Purpose
Procedure
Prelab Questions/Activities
Data
Questions
Discussion Questions

All directions must be followed precisely. All sections must be completed carefully and
thoroughly. All questions must be typed with your answers following each question.
Draw tables and graphs as necessary.

Type your formal lab report with Times New Roman font no larger than 12 pt.

A lab report which follows directions completely and answers questions thoroughly and
thoughtfully will receive an A grade.

A lab report that follows directions generally and answers all questions somewhat
thoroughly and thoughtfully will receive a B grade.

A lab report that follows directions somewhat and answers questions perfunctorily
without regard for answering clearly will receive a C grade.

A lab report that neither follows directions nor answers questions properly will receive a
D grade.

Any signs of plagiarism will be dealt with according to school rules up to and including
an appearance before the honor council. This includes copying answers verbatim from
your lab partner. He is your partner during lab, not in writing laboratory reports.