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Chemistry (/chemistry/) > Chemistry Practicals (/chemistry/chemistry-practicals/) > CBSE Class 10 Chemistry Practical (/chemistry/cbse-class-10-chemistry-practical-syllabus/) > Reactivity
Series Experiment (/chemistry/reactivity-series-experiment/)

Reactivity Series - Zinc, Iron, Copper, Aluminium

In this article, we have discussed a step-by-step procedure to perform CBSE Class 10 Science Practicals experiment Reactivity Series. It will help you
understand the reaction of metals such as zinc, aluminium, copper, and iron with aqueous salt solutions of aluminium sulphate, copper sulphate,
ferrous sulphate, and zinc sulphate. Also, after performing the experiment Reactivity Series of Metals, you will be able to analyse the decreasing order of
their reactivity.

Table of Content
Aim

Apparatus

Theory

Procedure

Observation

Result

Precautions

Viva Voce

Aim:
1. Observing the action of zinc, iron, copper and aluminium metals for the following salt solutions.
a. Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4)

b. Copper sulphate (CuSO4)

c. Ferrous sulphate (FeSO4)

d. Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3)

2. Arranging the metals Zinc, Copper, Iron, and Aluminium in the decreasing order of reactivity based on the results obtained from the above.

Also Read: Reactivity Series – Zinc, Iron, Copper, Aluminium Viva Questions (https://byjus.com/chemistry/class-10-observing-the-action-of-zn-fe-
cu-and-al-metals-on-the-following-salt-solutions-znso4-feso4-cuso4-al2so43/)

Materials required:
1. Aluminium foil

2. Zinc granules
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3. Copper turnings
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4. Iron filings
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5. Copper sulphate solution
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6. Aluminium sulphate solution
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7. Zinc sulphate solution
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8. Four 50ml beakers

9. Test tube

10. Test tube stand

Theory:

What is reactivity series?

Different metals have different reactivities with chemical reagents. The metals form positive ions by losing electrons more readily. A more reactive
metal displaces a less reactive metal from salt solution. Such reactions are called displacement reactions.
(https://byjus.com/chemistry/displacement-reactions/) Consider an example, if a small amount of zinc is dipped in copper sulphate solution, zinc is
displaced from copper sulphate. The blue colour of copper sulphate fades and colourless zinc sulphate solution is obtained. Therefore, zinc is more
reactive than copper.

Aluminium has the ability to displace zinc, iron, copper from their respective salt solutions and therefore is more reactive than them.

Reactions:

2Al(s) + 3ZnSO4(aq) –→ Al2(SO4)3 + 3Zn(s)

2Al(s) + 3FeSO4(aq) –→ Al2(SO4)3 + 3Fe(s)

2Al(s) + 3CuSO4(aq) –→ Al2(SO4)3 + 3Cu(s)

Zinc has the ability to displace iron, copper from their respective salt solutions and therefore is more reactive than them.

Reactions:

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) –→ ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

Zn(s) + FeSO4(aq) –→ ZnSO4 (aq) + Fe(s)

Zn(s) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) –→ no reaction

Zn(s) + ZnSO4(aq) –→ no reaction

Iron has the ability to displace copper from its salt solution and therefore is more reactive when compared to Cu.

Reactions:

Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) –→ FeSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

Fe(s) + FeSO4(aq) –→ no reaction

Fe(s) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) –→ no reaction

Fe(s) + ZnSO4(aq) –→ no reaction

No reaction occurs when any of the metals from zinc, iron, aluminium, and copper are placed in aqueous solution of Al2(SO4)3.

Therefore, from the above, we can conclude the reactivity of elements in the following order –

Aluminium is more reactive than zinc.

Zinc is more reactive than Fe.

Fe is more reactive than Cu.

Hence, Aluminium is the most reactive and Copper being the least reactive metal.

The below table gives you an understanding of the colours exhibited by the metals and their salts:

Compound name Formula Colour

Watchsulphate
Aluminium this video to know more Al2(SO4)3 Colourless (https://ad-
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Copper sulphate CuSO4 Blue

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Zinc sulphate ZnSO4 Colourless
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Ferrous sulphate FeSO4 Light green
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Copper Cu Reddish brown

Aluminium Al White

Zinc Zn Silver white

Iron Fe Blackish grey

Experimental Setup:

Procedure:
1. Wash four beakers with distilled water, dry them and label them A, B, C, D.

2. Prepare 50 mL solution with 5% concentration by volume of ferrous sulphate, aluminium sulphate, copper sulphate, zinc sulphate.

3. Pour ZnSO4 in beaker A, FeSO4 in beaker B, CuSO4 in beaker C, and add Al2(SO4)3 in beaker D.

4. Wash four test tubes with distilled water and dry them.

5. Put them in a test tube stand and label them as A, B, C and D as shown in the figure above.

6. Take 10 mL of the saturated ferrous sulphate (FeSO4), copper sulphate (CuSO4), zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), and aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3 ) in the
test tube as shown in the figure.
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7. Take
on howmetal strips
we can help of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Clean them with sandpaper before using them in the experiment.
you!

8. Now dip one of the four metal strips in all the four test tubes and observe if any colour change occurs in all four test tubes.

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9. Continue step 8 with other metal strips by dipping in fresh aqueous solutions of metals and see the displacement reaction.
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Observation:
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Metal Dipped in Observation

Al ZnSO4 No change in the solution. Zinc metal which is greyish accumulates on Aluminium metal.

Al CuSO4 Blue solution becomes colourless. Copper metal which appears reddish brown gets accumulated.

Al Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Al FeSO4 Green solution becomes colourless. Iron metal which appears greyish black gets accumulated.

Fe ZnSO4 No reaction.

Fe CuSO4 Solution becomes light green. Copper metal which appears reddish brown gets accumulated.

Fe Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Fe FeSO4 No reaction.

Zn ZnSO4 No reaction.

Zn CuSO4 Blue solution turns colourless. Reddish brown coppers accumulates on zinc metal.

Zn Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Zn FeSO4 Light green solution turns colourless. Greyish black iron accumulates on zinc metal.

Cu ZnSO4 No reaction.

Cu CuSO4 No reaction.

Cu Al2(SO4)3 No reaction.

Cu FeSO4 No reaction.

Result and Conclusion:

Metals Inference

Aluminium Aluminium displaces zinc, copper, and iron from their solutions. Aluminium is the most reactive metal.

Zinc Zinc displaces copper, and iron from their solutions. Zinc is more reactive than Cu and Fe metal.

Iron Iron displaces copper from its solution. Therefore, copper is less reactive than iron.

Copper Copper does not displace any metal therefore it is the least reactive.

The decreasing order of reactivity of metals is as follows:

Al

Zn

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Fe
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Cu
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Precautions to be taken during the experiment:
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Use cleanly washed and dried apparatus for the experiment.

Clean the metals before dipping them in the solution. You can clean it with sandpaper.

Use small quantities of aluminium sulphate, iron sulphate, copper sulphate and copper sulphate solutions for the experiment.

Handle the chemicals with care and do not allow them to come in contact with your skin.

Make sure you wash the test tubes after every observation.

Wash your hands thoroughly after the experiment as the salt solutions are poisonous.

Viva Voce:
1. Can you name two metals that are more reactive than iron?

Ans: Aluminium and zinc.

2. What happens when copper is added to iron (II) sulphate solution?

Ans: There is no reaction as copper is less reactive when compared to iron.

3. The colour of copper sulphate solution is ______.

Ans: Blue.

4. The colour of aluminium sulphate solution is ______.

Ans: Colourless.

5. The colour of iron sulphate solution is ______.

Ans: Green.

Take up a quiz on Reactivity Series experiment

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

Start Quiz

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