Chem 181

Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory

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Name Course & Year

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Group Number Section Date

Experiment No. 5
METALS AND SOME ASPECTS OF CORROSION

Objectives: 1. to list properties of metals belonging to different families

2. to compare the relative activities of metals
3. to prescribe ways to prevent corrosion

Apparatus: 4 - 22mm test tubes 1 - 250 mL beaker

4 - 10mm test tubes watch glass
16 - 5mm test tubes test tube holder
1 - 10 mL graduated cylinder Bunsen burner,

Materials: metals solutions

1 pc. sodium 1M copper (II) sulfate
5 pcs. zinc 1 M zinc chloride
6 pcs. iron nail 1 M magnesium chloride
5 pcs. magnesium ribbon 1 M ferric chloride
5 pcs. copper wire 0.1 M potassium hexacyanoferrate
1 pc. bent nail phenolphthalein
1 pc nail wrapped with copper wire agar-agar solution
1 pc nail covered with mossy zinc methyl orange

Theory:
Metals are composed of atoms which easily lose electrons and form cations. They possess a
lustrous appearance, have high thermal and electrical conductivities and are malleable and
ductile.
Corrosion is a general term applied to the process in which uncombined metals, when left
exposed, eventually combine with the elements surrounding them (e.g. oxygen from the air) to
form compounds. In the special case of iron, the corrosion process is called rusting because the
compound formed is rust Fe2O3 ٠x H2O.
Procedure:
NOTE: Na metal is not available.
A. Physical attributes of the metals.
1. Put samples of the following metals on a watch glass: Na, Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe. Examine the
samples and record its physical state, appearance, color, and hardness in a watch glass. Write
your observations on the table provided.

B. Reaction of metals in water (added with indicators)

1. (for discussion only)
a. Add a very small piece of sodium to 150 mL of water in a beaker.
What happened to the metal?
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b. Divide the solution into two parts. Add two drops of phenolphthalein in the first part.
What happened to the color of the solution?
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c. In the other part add 2 drops of methyl orange.

What happened to the color of the solution?
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2. Fill four 22mm test tubes with 3 mL water. Drop a small piece of magnesium ribbon to the first
test tube, zinc metal to the second, iron nail to the third and copper wire to the fourth test tube.
a. Divide each solution into two parts. Add two drops of phenolphthalein in the first part.
What happened to the color of the solution?
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b. In the other part add 2 drops of methyl orange.

What happened to the color of the solution?
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C. Reaction of metals with other solution.
1. Fill four 5mm test tubes with 1.0 ml magnesium chloride solution. Drop a small piece of
magnesium ribbon to the first test tube, zinc metal to the second, iron nail to the third and copper
wire to the fourth test tube. Observe any changes on the test tubes from time to time for at least
5 minutes.
Observations:

2. Repeat procedure 4 using copper (II) sulfate solution.

Observations:

3. Repeat procedure 4 using zinc chloride solution.

Observations:

4. Repeat procedure 4 using ferric chloride.

Observations:

D. Corrosion and Prevention of Corrosion of metals.

1. Fill four 10mm test tubes (10-mmm) with1.0 mL freshly prepared agar-agar solution. Add 10
drops of 0.1 M K3Fe(CN)6 and 5 drops of 1% phenolphthalein. Drop a piece of straight iron nail,
bent nail, nail wrapped with copper wire and a nail coated with mossy zinc to each test tube
separately.
Observations:

Summary of Results:
A. Physical attributes of the metals.

Metals Physical State Appearance Color Hardness

Na
Mg
Zn
Fe
Cu
B. Reaction of metals in water (added with indicators)
1. Sodium in water
a. Na + H2O →
b. solution + phenolphthalein →
c. solution + methyl orange →
2. metals in water with
a. phenolphthalein: observed chemical changes with balance chemical equations below
Mg + H2O →
Zn + H2O →
Fe + H2O →
Cu + H2O →
b. metals in water with phenolphthalein
Mg + H2O →
Zn + H2O →
Fe + H2O →
Cu + H2O →
Arrange the five metals in decreasing order of activity in water:

C. Reaction of metals with other solution.

3. Summarize all observed results in the table below. If a reaction occurred between the metal
and the solution place a positive sign (+) in the appropriate box and give the experimental
observation. If no reaction occurred write a minus sign (-).

SOLUTIONS
METALS MgCl2 FeCl3 ZnCl2 CuSO4
Fe a. e. i. m.
Cu b. f. j. n.
Zn c. g. k. o.
Mg d. h. l. p.
 Represent observed chemical changes with balanced chemical equations below.
a. iron + magnesium chloride

b. zinc + cupric sulfate

c. magnesium + cupric sulfate

d. copper + magnesium chloride

e. zinc + magnesium chloride

f. magnesium + magnesium chloride

g. iron + ferric chloride

h. copper + ferric chloride

i. zinc + ferric chloride

j. magnesium + ferric chloride

k. iron + zinc chloride

l. copper + zinc chloride

m. zinc + zinc chloride

n. magnesium + zinc chloride

o. iron + cupric sulfate

p. copper + cupric sulfate

Arrange the four metals from the least reactive to the most reactive.

D. Corrosion and Prevention of Corrosion of metals.

1. agar-agar solution + K3Fe(CN)6 + phenolphthalein + (nail)
a. straight iron nail →
b. bent nail →
c. nail wrapped with Cu wire →
d. nail coated with mossy Zn →
Questions:
1. Explain the role of the potassium hexacyanoferrate, agar agar solution and phenolphthalein in
procedure 8.

2. Explain how corrosion occurs in metals.

3. Give 5 ways to prevent corrosion. Explain and give examples.

DOCUMENTATIONS