Overwriters Laboratories inc.

Fear The Penguins!

Paul Atkinson, Scott Jaderholm, Cedric Shock

Activity of Metals

Purpose

The purpose of this lab is to compare the activity of two metals in the same group and infer predictions of the activity of other metal and nonmetal groups. This lab uses the chemical phenolphthalein to test if a compound is a base. Phenolphthalein will turn bright pink or fuchsia when placed in a base.

Observations

The reaction of Ca and water produced a base. This was evident because the phenolphthalein reacted with the product to give it a bright pink coloring.

The reaction of Mg and water produced a weak base. The base was not produced until the water reached a boiling temperature and the phenolphthalein turned a faded pink.

Conclusions

Ca is more chemically active than Mg. The Mg was less reactive requiring the water to be boiling to react with it. A similar proportion of phenolphthalein turned the Ca product a bright pink and added a light tinge to the Mg.

The activity of metals in a group is greater for those with a larger number of protons and less for elements with fewer. Nonmetals behave in the opposite way. The most active nonmetal is that with the fewest protons and the least active is the nonmetal containing the most protons.