Laboratory Activity 1C: Displacement of Metal from Its Salt Solution

Aim: To investigate a redox reaction in the displacement of metal from its salt solution.

Materials: Magnesium ribbon, Mg, lead plate, Pb, copper plate, Cu, 0.5 mol dm−3 of lead(II)
nitrate, Pb(NO3)2 solution, 0.5 mol dm−3 of magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2 solution
and 0.5 mol dm−3 of copper (II) nitrate, Cu(NO3)2 solution.

Apparatus: Test tube, test tube rack and sandpaper.

Salt solution

Metal

Procedure:
1. Clean magnesium ribbon, lead plate and copper plate using sand paper.
2. Put magnesium ribbon into two different test tubes.
3. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 lead(II) nitrate solution into the first test tube and 0.5 mol dm-3 copper(II)
nitrate solution into the second test tube. The salt solution is poured until the magnesium
ribbon is immersed.
4. Repeat step 2 using lead plate and copper plate.
5. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 magnesium(II) nitrate solution into the third test tube and 0.5 mol dm-3
copper(II) nitrate solution into the fourth test tube. The salt solution is poured until the lead
plate is immersed.
6. Pour 0.5 mol dm-3 magnesium(II) nitrate solution into the fifth test tube and 0.5 mol dm-3
lead(II) nitrate solution into the sixth test tube. The salt solution is poured until the copper
plate is immersed.
7. Put all the test tubes on the test tube rack.
8. Record the observation.

Results:
Construct a suitable table to record all observations and inferences.

Experiment Reactant Observations Inferences

Lead (II) nitrate

solution
Magnesiu
m
Copper (II) nitrate
solution

Magnesium nitrate
solution

Lead
Copper (II) nitrate
solution

Magnesium nitrate
solution
Copper
Lead (II) nitrate
solution

Mark (√) if displacement reaction occurred and (x) if displacement reaction does not occur.

Salt solution
Magnesium nitrate Lead (II) nitrate Copper (II) nitrate
Metal strip/plate solution, Mg(NO3)2 solution, Pb(NO3)2 solution, Cu(NO3)2

Magnesium
Mg
Lead
Pb
Copper
Cu

Discussion:
1. For each set of experiment that occur:

 Experiment: Mg + Pb(NO3)2

(a) Write
oxidation half equation

reduction half equation

overall ionic equation

(b) Identify:
(i) Oxidised
substance
(ii) Oxidising
agent.
(iii) Reduced
substance.
(iv) Reducing
agent.
(c) Give reasons for your answers

(b)(i) Magnesium atom __________electron to formed Mg2+ ion.

(b) (ii) Pb2+ ion _________ electron to formed lead, Pb atom.

(b) (iii) Pb2+ ion is the electron __________

(b) (iv)
Mg is the electron _______

 Experiment: Mg + Cu(NO3)2

(a) Write
oxidation half equation

reduction half equation

overall ionic equation

(b) Identify:
(v) Oxidised
substance
(vi) Oxidising
agent.
(vii) Reduced
substance.
(viii) Reducing
agent.
(c) Give reasons for your answers
 (b)(i)

(b) (ii)

(b) (iii)

(b) (iv)

 Experiment: Pb + Cu(NO3)2

(a) Write
oxidation half equation

reduction half equation

overall ionic equation

(b) Identify:
(ix) Oxidised
substance
(x) Oxidising
agent.
(xi) Reduced
substance.
(xii) Reducing
agent.
(c) Give reasons for your answers

(b)(i)

(b) (ii)

(b) (iii)

(b) (iv)

Conclusion: -

 More electropositive metal will displace less electropositive metal from its salts
solution.
 Metal displacement reaction is a redox reaction.