SCALAR AND VECTOR QUANTITIES

  As can be seen from the diagram Scalar quantities only have a magnitude whereas Vector quantities have a direction and a magnitude. Therefore speed for example is a scalar magnitude whereas velocity is a vector quantity because it has both a magnitude and a direction; velocity is speed in a given direction

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON VECTORS

METAL REACTIVITY SERIES AND DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS 2

As a follow on form the previous post here is a bit more info...

DISPLACEMENT REACTION IN SOLUTION
A more reactive metal will displace a metal from it's compound in solution.
Observations could include:

• the more reactive metal gradually dissolves
• the less reactive metal coats the more reactive metal
• the solution may change colour
• theat is given out because these reactions are exothermic
• fizzing may occur

Here are two examples of these reactions:

1. Magnesium and Copper Sulphate solution

Magnesium is more reactive than Copper so it displaces Copper from the Copper Sulphate Solution.

The Word equation is:

Magnesium + Copper Sulphate

---------> Magnesium Sulphate + Copper

The Magnesium has been coated with Copper in this displacement reaction

2. Iron and Copper Sulphate Solution

Iron is more reactive than Copper so it displaces the Copper from the Copper Sulphate Solution.

The word equation for this reaction is:

Iron + Copper Sulphate

------------> Iron Sulphate + Copper

The Iron becomes coated with Copper in this displacement reaction

However the rate of this reaction is much slower (it takes much longer) as Iron and Copper are much closer together in the Reactivity Series

Metal                           Compound in Solution

                                     MgSo4            CuSo4            FeSo4

Mg                               No                    Yes                 Yes                             

Cu                                No                     No                 No

Fe                                No                      Yes                No

• 
  
  A metal will not react with it's compound
• 
  
  Magnesium is the most reactive of the three because it reacted with the other two metals
• 
  
  Copper is the least reactive because it didn't react with compounds of  the other two metals
• 
  
  Note that the compound itself is not important, only the metal it contains, so Copper Nitrate, for example, would give the same answer as Copper Sulphate

Displacement reactions also occur with solid metal oxides, but that is for another post.

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METAL REACTIVITY AND DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS

 This post should help with Year 11PY internal assessment 1.1

The reactivity series to the side shows a list of metals, with the addition of two non metals: carbon and hydrogen, arranged in order of their reactivity from most reactive to least reactive.By using the reactivity series we can predict what will happen in displacement reactions. The reason carbon and hydrogen are included in this list is because carbon is used in the extraction of iron ore and any metals below hydrogen in the list will not react with dilute HCl.


Metals react by losing electrons which is oxidation; metals are the reductant, ie they donate electrons.

When metals react with other other metals in a metal salt solution a displacement reaction takes place; a more reactive metal will take the place of a less reactive metal. In other words the more reactive metal donates electrons to the less reactive metal (existing in ion form).


The key point is that if a less reactive metal is added to a metal salt solution which contains metal ions from a more reactive metal then there will be no displacement and no reaction will take place. Therefore if we put Copper, Lead, Zinc, Aluminium into a solution of Magnesium Sulphate as Magnesium is more reactive there will be no reaction and nothing to observe as the Magnesium 'wins the competition' for the Sulphate ions.


Other Metal Salts that can be used are Nitrates and Chlorides for example.


In the practical carried out another example may help in consolidating knowledge. If we take Zinc and a solution containing Copper ions, in this case Copper Sulphate what is going to happen?

• Looking at the reactivity series above it can be seen that Zinc is more reactive than Copper
• Zinc being more reactive forces the Copper ions to accept electrons, ie Zinc acts as a reductant by donating electrons to the Copper ions in solution, which become Copper metal atoms
• Zinc then accepts the Sulphate ions and becomes oxidised and becomes Zinc Sulphate
• The Zinc metal will discolour and the blue Copper Sulphate solution fades in colour
• We can say that Zinc has displaced the Copper ions from the Copper Sulphate solution

 If we discount the spectator ions (Sulphate ions) the ionic equations are:

• Zn -----------------> Zn2+ + 2e
• C2+ + 2e ----------------> Cu

Using this information and the reactivity series you should be able to work out what metals will displace other metal ions from a metal salt solution

DEVISING A FAIR TEST WHEN DOING A PRACTICAL

This revision post should interest both Year 10 SiA1 and 11 PY as both classes are involved in doing practical investigations with direction; ie designing and implementing and writing up an experiment. Before carrying out the actual practical assessment the opportunity is being given for a practice run.

• in the case of year 10 the practice is to do with designing a Fair Test to investigate something to do with the swing of a pendulum. This will be followed up by another practice, this time called Hot Wheels

• in the case of year 11 the practice will be with a Metal Activity Series

This link gives a simplified step by step guide to designing a fair test

The main points are:

• Come up with an Hypothesis / Statement against which you are going to implement your Fair Test. If it is a statement this should be a statement of what you think is going to happen
• Identify the following variables: independent, dependent and control variables and make sure to list them all stating which type of variable they are
• The independent variable, which is plotted on the x axis, is the variable you have identified in your hypothesis as affecting the dependent variable, and is the ONE variable that you are going to change
• The dependent variable is the variable that is going to change as a result of you changing the independent variable, and is plotted on the y axis
• The control variables are all the other variables that could affect the fair test if you do not 'control' them, ensuring they are always the same
• Make sure that a full step step methodology is written down in your Fair Test stating how you are going to ensure that the test is fair, ie how you are going to measure the independent variable making sure that all the other control variables are taken into account and kept the same throughout the test. This methodology should be easy and simple enough for another group of students to pick up and carry out the same experiment you have just written and carried out!
• Make a table of observed results and a graph if appropriate
• Draw up your conclusions and evaluate whether the Fair Test you carried out was fair and either proved or disproved your original statement/hypothesis. Bear in mind that depending on your original statement you may or may not agree with the hypothesis; this is alright as long as you have carried out a fair test. If things did not work out as expected then your evaluation should include what you would change, or do differently, next time

Here is a link to a cool little simulation about the pendulum (particularly relevant to the10SiA1 class)

GLOBAL WARMING LINK

A link due to global warming

Hottest April since records began

Another indicator pointing to Global Warming

CARBON DIOXIDE AND GLOBAL WARMING

Global Warming Story: Carbon Dioxide is trackable