You are going to react some metals with oxygen to see how they react and to compare their reactivity.
Apparatus
Bunsen
mat
magnesium ribbon
iron wool
copper foil
tongs
plus for demo
potassium
tile
scalpel
tweezers
Safety !
• Wear eye protection
• Some of the metals are flammable
• Do not look directly at magnesium while it reacts
Method
Potassium (demo)
A Your teacher will demonstrate the reaction of potassium with oxygen. She/he will cut off a piece of potassium. Note what
happens to the freshly cut surface of the potassium.
B Now your teacher will put some potassium on a deflagrating spoon and heat it over a Bunsen flame. Fill in observations in
the table.
Iron, copper and magnesium
C You are going to heat iron wool, copper foil and magnesium ribbon in a Bunsen flame. In each case hold the metal with
tongs and in the Bunsen flame over a heat-proof mat. Record your observations in the table.
Results
Metal Observations Word equation
potassium
copper
iron