COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Engineering Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

_____________________________________
CABALLERO, DARYL T. _______________
10/14/21
Family Name First Name Middle Initial Date Submitted

BSCE – 1
____________________________________
M21 2 _______________
ENGR. DANGIN, ROSARIO G.
Course & Year Section Group Instructor
Number

Experiment No. __5__

METALS AND SOME ASPECTS OF CORROSION

__________________________________
Title of the Experiment

I. Objective/s:
• 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

II. Apparatus:
4 22-mm test tubes 10 mL graduated cylinder
4 10-mm test tubes Bunsen burner
16 5-mm test tubes test tube holder
test tube rack watch glass
Materials: metals solutions
5 pcs.zinc 1M copper (II) sulfate
6 pcs.iron nail 1 M zinc chloride
5 pcs. magnesium ribbon 1 M ferric chloride
5 pcs. copper wire 1 M magnesium chloride
1 pc. bent nail 0.1 M potassium
hexacyanoferrate
1 pc nail wrapped with copper phenolphthalein
1 pc nail wrapped with aluminum agar-agar solution
distilled water
 III. Procedure and Observations

Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe samples should be placed on a watch glass. Examine and
describe the samples' physical state, appearance, and color. Make a note of the
observations on the supplied table. 3 mL water in four 22mm test tubes Each test tube
should include two (2) drops of phenolphthalein. Put a little bit of magnesium ribbon in the
first test tube, then zinc metal in the second, copper wire in the third, and an iron nail in
the fourth. If there isn't a response, heat it up. Keep an eye out for any hue shifts. Fill in
the blanks with the balanced chemical equations. The physical of the metals are all solid,
while the appearance is said to be regular except for the Zinc and the colors was almost
gray not for the copper which is reddish-brown. All metals react with water will form their
hydroxides except for copper.

Place 1.0 mL magnesium chloride solution in four 5mm test tubes. Fill the first test
tube with a little bit of magnesium ribbon, the second with zinc metal, the third with copper,
and the fourth with an iron nail. For minimum of 5 minutes, keep an eye on the test tubes
for potential alterations. After the metals were dropping into the solution, there was no
reaction for the first few minutes. Bubbles occurred on the surface of the magnesium
ribbon and iron nail after 5-10 minutes. Since magnesium was the highest reactivity
among all the metals used, the weaker reactivity of other metals can’t replace the
magnesium, therefore, there’s no reaction happened to the metals or samples used.

Apply copper (II) sulfate solution to repeat process 3. Bubbles and black particles
began to form on the surface of the magnesium ribbon a few minutes after it was dip into
the cupric sulfate solution. The zinc metal surface darkens over time. On the iron nail,
bubbles form and the submerged part of the nail turns reddish-brown. Black particles
multiplied after 5-10 minutes, and bubbles began to escape. The zinc metal surface
almost completely blackens. Iron nails turn a reddish-brown color as well. Since copper
has weaker or the lowest reactivity among all the metals applied, higher reactivity of
metals can replace and have reactions such as the magnesium, zinc, and iron, only
copper has no reaction.

Apply zinc chloride solution to repeat process 3. For the first few minutes, after
that, submerge the magnesium ribbon in the zinc chloride solution. Bubbles began to
escape away from the metal. Bubbles appear in the surface of zinc metal and an iron nail
after 5-10 minutes. Only magnesium has reaction, since other metal samples has lower
reactivity and zinc has no reaction since its same properties.

Apply ferric chloride solution to repeat process 3. For the first few minutes after
dropping, bubbles appear on the surface on the magnesium ribbon, zinc and iron nails.
More bubbles appear on the surface on the magnesium ribbon after 5-10 minutes. On the
surface of zinc metal, has bubbles formed. Even yet, bubbles were also found from the
iron nail surface, but the magnesium ribbon and zinc metal turn a rusty yellow color. Since
magnesium and zinc have higher reactivity than the other metals and iron, it can have
reaction and the rest will have no reaction.
 1.0 mL freshly prepared agar-agar solution in four 10mm test tubes. Add 10 drops
of 0.1 M K3Fe(CN)6 and 5 drops of 1% phenolphthalein to the mixture. Place a straight
iron nail, a bent nail, a copper wire-wrapped nail, and an aluminum-wrapped nail into each
test tube individually. Allow for a 5- to 10-minute rest period. Take notice of the color
distinctions between the straight iron nail's head and tip, the iron nail wrapped with copper
wire, the iron nail covered with aluminum, and the bent section of the bent iron nail.
Observe the behavior after removing the nails from the test containers. Collect information
after removing the copper and aluminum wrappings from the nail. All of the nails are found
to corroded except for the nail covered with aluminum, because as the video experiment
conducted, rust and particles are visible and deposited from the nails. Therefore, it didn’t
prevent the corrosion since oxygen still manage to have existence or present in the
experiment, but theoretically, the nail covered with the aluminum should have prevented
the corrosion.
 IV. Tables and Calculations

1. Physical Attributes of the Metals

Physical state: solid, liquid, gas

Appearance: if regularly shaped, put what shape; otherwise, put “irregular

shape”

Metals Physical State Appearance Color

Mg Solid Regular Gray

(Rectangular)
Zn Solid Irregular Gray

Cu Solid Regular Reddish-brown

(Cylindrical)
Fe Solid Regular Gray
(Triangular)

2. Metals in Water

Write the products (except for letter d) and balance the chemical equation.
Write NR on the products side if there is no reaction.

a. Mg(s)+ H2O(l)→ Mg(OH)2(s) + H2(G)

Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) → Mg(OH)2(s) + H2(g)

b. Zn(s)+H2O(l)→ Zn(OH)2(AQ) + H2(G)

Zn(s) + 2H2O(l) → Zn(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

c. Cu(s)+ H2O(l)→ NR

d. Fe(s)+ H2O(g)→FeO(s)+H2(g)
Fe2+(aq)+ OH-(aq)+ e-→Fe(OH)3(aq)

Arrange the four metals in decreasing order of activity in water:

Magnesium (Mg) > Zinc (Zn) > Iron (Fe) > Copper (Cu)
3. − 6. 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 ZnCl2 CuSO4 FeCl3
Mg a. - e. + Bubbles i. + a mixture of m. + The
began to float magnesium bubbles are
away from the and copper forming at the
magnesium sulfate solution surface of the
ribbon. generates magnesium
black particles ribbon and also
and bubbles turn yellowish.
Zn b. - f. - j. + the surface n. + the
of zinc turns bubbles are
black forming at the
surface of the
zinc and also
turn yellowish.
Cu c. - g. - k. - o. -
Fe d. - h. - l. + the surface p. -
of the iron nail
turns reddish
brown.
 V. Discussion of Results

The four metals and their corrosion properties are the subject of this experiment.
Metals are made up of atoms that lose electrons quickly and produce cations. These are
lustrous, malleable, ductile, and have good thermal and electrical conductivity. Physical
state, look, and color of the sample should be observed anytime. When a metal interacts
with water, it produces metal hydroxide as a general rule. Metal oxide is produced when
it interacts with steam. This is due to the fact that metal hydroxides disintegrate thermally
into oxide and water. (chem.libretexts.org, 2020). As a result of the presence of oxygen
in the experiment, all of the nails began to deteriorate. The physical properties of the
metals are all solid, and their appearance is described as regular, with the exception of
zinc, which has a color that is almost gray, as opposed to copper, which is reddish-brown.
Except for copper, all metals react with water to form hydroxides.

Magnesium is the eighth most prevalent element in the earth's crust and belongs
to group two. Magnesium is a light, silvery-white metal with a strong exterior. When
exposed to air, it develops a thin coating around itself, similar to aluminum, to assist
prevent corrosion (chem.libretexts.org, 2020). Some of the kinds used in medicine are
magnesium hydroxides, sulfates, chlorides, and citrates. The most reactive element is
placed at the top of a reactivity series, while the least reactive element is placed at the
bottom. Metals with a higher reactivity have a higher tendency to lose electrons and
generate positive ions (www.bbc.co.uk, 2020). Considering magnesium has the highest
reactivity of all the metals used, other metals with lower reactivity can't replace it, thus no
reaction occurs with the metals or samples utilized.

Zinc displaces copper from copper sulphate and creates zinc sulphate solution
when added to copper sulphate solution. Because zinc is more reactive than copper in
the reactivity series, it will undergo a redox reaction known as the metal displacement
reaction (www.vedantu.com, 2018). But, first and foremost, it is dependent on the
copper's oxidation state, as copper is a transition metal with different oxidation states.
Although copper has the lowest reactivity of all the metals used, metals with higher
reactivity can replace and have reactions, such as magnesium, zinc, and iron, whereas
copper has none.

Metals and halogens are classified in the activity series based on their capacity to
replace metals and halogens below them. Only magnesium has a reaction, as the
reactivity of other metal samples is lower, while zinc has no reaction due to its similar
characteristics. Considering of adding also ferric chloride on the metals, because
magnesium and zinc have a higher reactivity than the other metals including iron, they
can react while the others do not.

Corrosion is the study of reactions between a metal and its surroundings. It also
refers to the prevention of corrosion by altering the properties of metals and their
environment (LaQue, May, & Uhlig, 1995). Substantial progress in the defense against
corrosion have been due to contractual to a greater knowledge of the natural forces at
work and the development of scientific concepts that may be used to manage corrosion
effectively. By showing some of these concepts, it is easy to explain how this activity
happens and what may be done to decrease it. Every one of the nails were determined
to have corroded, with the exception of the aluminum-coated nail, since rust and particles
were visible and deposited from the nails during the video experiment. As a result, it did
not prevent corrosion since oxygen continued to exist or be present in the experiment,
although theoretically, the aluminum-coated nail should have prevented corrosion.
 VI. Significance of the Experiment

Corrosion is a destructive chemical or electrochemical phenomenon that may

damage any metal or alloy by reacting with the environment and, in severe situations,
causing structural collapse. Corrosion is also described as the degradation of a substance
as a result of its response to its surroundings. Most metals have a natural propensity to
revert to their original form when exposed to moisture; for example, iron in the presence
of wet air will revert to its natural state, iron oxide.

To understand their comparable chemical behavior, the vertical columns of the

periodic table are named groups or families to explain the characteristics of metals
belonging to various families. A family of elements all have the same amount of valence
electrons and have chemical characteristics that are comparable. Periods are the
horizontal rows of the periodic table.

Considering the comparing each metal's reaction with a particular reagent, the
relative reactivity of a group of metals may be determined. A metal may react with a
specific reagent or there may be no response at all. A particular metal, on the other hand,
may react with a certain reagent at a different pace than another metal.

It's also important to figure out how to avoid the significant expenses of
maintenance operations, replacement, and downtime that come with corrosion damage.
Corrosion damage may be greatly reduced by taking preventative measures such as
good facility design and the use of materials with properly applied protective coatings.
 VII. References

Chemistry of Magnesium (Z=12). (2020, August 22). Retrieved October 14, 2021, from
https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/597

Reactions of Group 2 Elements with Water. (2020, August 16). Retrieved October 14,
2021, from https://chem.libretexts.org/@go/page/3676

Reactivity series “Chemistry (Single Science)”, (2019). From

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqjsgk7/revision/1?fbclid=IwAR3a4MuOOlV__NM
-5gp0V8TH82u1X0Tt6SK-4b-XPRu-x_fwEXWWOxNb0I0

Vedantu “Chemical Reactions” (2018) from https://www.vedantu.com/question-

answer/reaction-of-zinc-with-copper-sulphate-solution-class-10-chemistry-cbse-
5f0edccc49f5fa078890cd43?fbclid=IwAR3kFNrdx-
8CVbEWlmbsIL122DvaMq6AsbaeAAI7_CA1nUNYZMsCn18De04

LaQue, F.L., May, T.P. & Uhlig, H.H., Corrosion in Action, International Nickel Company
of Canada, Toronto, Canada, 1955 from https://corrosion-doctors.org/Corrosion-
History/Action.htm?fbclid=IwAR2GdJn9tK9ufUqN-u0tNba8i02VmperdsdtC6GU3jY-
A9K3g2gXOZztv9w