Question 1
A group of learners placed copper, magnesium, silver and zinc in a Bunsen flame to see how they reacted with oxygen. Their notes were:
- Copper: Nothing really happened; there was a slight colour change after the metal was held in the flame for a long time.
- Magnesium: The metal burnt with a brilliant white light (too bright to look at). It produced white smoke that consisted of white particles.
- Silver: The metal was placed in the flame and we waited for a few minutes for something to happen, but it never did.
- Zinc: After a short while, we saw a light blue flame. After we removed the metal from the flame, we saw a white powder on the metal.
Present the group’s notes in step 2 in the table below. Write them in a more scientific way. Use the words in the box to complete the ‘Reactivity’ column. In the ‘Other observations’ column, write any comments that relate to colour changes and/or products formed.
Reacts readily; Does not react; Reacts vigorously; Reacts very slowly.
| Metal | Reactivity | Other observations |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | | |
| Magnesium | | |
| Silver | | |
| Zinc | | |
- Copper: Nothing really happened; there was a slight colour change after the metal was held in the flame for a long time.
- Magnesium: The metal burnt with a brilliant white light (too bright to look at). It produced white smoke that consisted of white particles.
- Silver: The metal was placed in the flame and we waited for a few minutes for something to happen, but it never did.
- Zinc: After a short while, we saw a light blue flame. After we removed the metal from the flame, we saw a white powder on the metal.
Present the group’s notes in step 2 in the table below. Write them in a more scientific way. Use the words in the box to complete the ‘Reactivity’ column. In the ‘Other observations’ column, write any comments that relate to colour changes and/or products formed.
Reacts readily; Does not react; Reacts vigorously; Reacts very slowly.
| Metal | Reactivity | Other observations |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | | |
| Magnesium | | |
| Silver | | |
| Zinc | | |
