INORGANIC CHEMISTRY I (SCH 1213)

LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 2: OXIDATION AND REDUCTION –

METAL-METAL ION DISPLACEMENT AND

HALOGEN DISPLACEMENT REACTION

NAME MATRIC NO
1 MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM FIKRI BIN RAWI 1617549
PARTNER’S NAME MATRIC NO
2 NABILAKMAL BIN NAZREEN ELANGKO 1612417

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 27TH SEPTEMBER 2016 (TUESDAY, 2 – 5 pm)

LAB’S INSTRUCTOR : DR. RAIHAN BINTI MUSA

OBJECTIVES

The experiment is separated into two part. In the first part, the objectives is to determine relative
oxidizing and reducing strengths of zinc, magnesium, lead, copper and iron through redox
reaction. In the last part, firstly, we want to observe the colour of halogen (where bromine,
chlorine and iodine are used in this experiment) in dichloromethane. Then, we want to study
the halogen displacement reaction between potassium halide and the halogens.

BACKGROUND STUDY

The transfer of electrons is central to our understanding of chemical reactions. This transfer of
electrons from one chemical substance to another is known as an oxidation-reduction (redox)
or electron transfer reaction. [1]

In part A, different metals have different reactivity. This experiment will study which
metals are more reactive compared to other metals. The metal-metal displacement reaction will
discussed the oxidation and reduction in term of losing and gaining of electron.

In part B, the halogens, the group 17 elements are very reactive elements and are too
unstable to exist in nature in a non-combined form. They are all oxidising agents as they tend
to gain electrons to form halide ions. For example, chlorine tends to gain electrons to form
chloride ions. In this experiment, the strength of chlorine, bromine and iodine as oxidising
agents in aqueous solution will be compared. Hypothetically, the smaller the halogen atom, the
stronger the oxidising agent it is. Although solutions of chlorine, bromine and iodine in water
exhibit different colours, the identification of a particular halogen would be made simpler as
dichloromethane would be used in this experiment. The halogens dissolve preferentially in the
dichloromethane and exhibit characteristic colours. [2]

A list of instruments used during this experiments are as follows.

Materials
0.1M Mg(NO3)2 solution, 0.1M Pb(NO3)2 solution, 0.1M Cu(NO3)2 solution, 0.1M FeSO4
solution, zinc metal, magnesium metal, lead metal, copper metal, iron metal, bromine water,
dichloromethane, chlorine water, iodine water, potassium bromide solution, potassium
chloride solution, potassium iodide solution
Apparatus
Test tubes, spatula, glass rod, test tube rack, measuring cylinder, dropper

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PART A: METAL-METAL ION DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS

Experimental procedure

1. A piece of copper was placed in each of 4 test tubes.

2. 3mL of Mg(NO3)2 solution was added to first test tube, 3mL of Pb(NO3)2 solution to
second test tube, 3mL of Zn(NO3)2 solution to third test tube and 3mL of FeSO4 solution
to fourth test tube; to cover the zinc.
3. The mixture was shaken gently.
4. Any reactions or changes that occurred was recorded.
5. Experiment was repeated for magnesium; covering the metal with Zn(NO3)2, Pb(NO3)2,
Cu(NO3)2 and FeSO4.
6. Experiment was repeated for lead; covering the metal with Zn(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2,
Cu(NO3)2 and FeSO4.
7. Experiment was repeated for zinc; covering the metal with Cu(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2,
Pb(NO3)2 and FeSO4.
8. Experiment was repeated for iron; covering the metal with Zn(NO3)2, Mg(NO3)2,
Pb(NO3)2 and Cu(NO3)2.
9. Observations were recorded.

Data and Observations

Cu(NO3)2 Pb(NO3)2 FeSO4 Zn(NO3)2 Mg(NO3)2

solution solution solution solution solution
Copper No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction

Lead Black No reaction No reaction No reaction

precipitate
Iron Black Light brown No reaction No reaction
precipitate solution
Zinc Most black Black Least black No reaction
precipitate precipitate precipitate
Magnesium Chalky Black Black Black
solution precipitate precipitate powder

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Discussion

In this part, the idea is a more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal. The reactivity
of a metal is referred to the reactivity series of metal (metals consisted of those included in this
experiment only) below.

Magnesium is the most reactive metal compared to other metals in this experiment whereas
copper is the least reactive. So, magnesium can displace zinc, iron, lead and copper from its
solution while copper cannot displace any metal from its solution.

Displacement reaction is an example of oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction. The ions of a less

reactive metal will gain electrons and are reduced while the atoms of a more reactive metal will
lose electrons and are oxidised.

For example, when lead metal react with copper (II) nitrate solution, it will produced a black
precipitate which is the copper displaced.

Cu2+ + 2e- → Cu
Copper is less reactive than lead, so its gain electrons and are reduced. Cu2+ undergoes
reduction
Pb → Pb2+ + 2e-
Lead is more reactive than copper, so it loses electrons and are oxidised. Pb undergoes
oxidation.
In the example above, the Cu2+ act as an oxidising agent. They gain electrons from the lead
atoms. In doing so, the lead atoms are oxidised (and the Cu2+ ions are reduced).

Also in the example above, the lead atoms act as a reducing agent. They transfer electrons to
the Cu2+ ions. In doing so, the Cu2+ ions are reduced (and the lead atoms are oxidised).

Similar displacement reaction concept applied to other observations in this part.

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PART B: HALOGEN DISPLACEMNET REACTIONS

(i) Colour of halogen in dichloromethane

Experimental procedure

1. 2mL of bromine water was placed in a test tube.

2. 2mL of dichloromethane was added into the tube.
3. The tube was shaken vigorously for a few secs to allow the liquid layers to separate.
4. The colour of dichloromethane layer was recorded.
5. Experiment was repeated by replacing bromine water with chlorine water and iodine
water.
6. The solutions were retained for comparison.
Data and observations

Colour of dichloromethane layer

Bromine water + dichloromethane Cloudy
Chlorine water + dichloromethane Colourless
Iodine water + dichloromethane Pink

Discussion

Dichloromethane is a non-polar solvent. Dichloromethane is not soluble in water since water

is a polar solvent. All halogens are soluble in dichloromethane. From the experiment, the colour
of bromine, chlorine and iodine in dichloromethane is different to each other.

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(ii) Halogen displacement reaction

Experimental procedure
1. 2mL of potassium bromide solution was placed in a test tube.
2. 2mL of chlorine water was added into the tube.
3. The mixture was shaken.
4. Any changes that occurred were observed.
5. 1mL of dichloromethane was added to same test tube.
6. The mixture was shaken to allow the dichloromethane layer to settle.
7. The colour changes were recorded.
8. The experiments were repeated with different combination.
a. Chlorine water and potassium iodide solution.
b. Bromine water and potassium chloride solution.
c. Bromine water and potassium iodide solution.
d. Iodine water and potassium chloride solution.
e. Iodine water and potassium bromide solution.
9. For every mixture, some dichloromethane was added into each combination.
10. The mixture was shaken.
11. Any newly formed halogen that might be present was identified.
Data and observations

Colour changes on the addition of

Observations dichloromethane
KBr + Cl2 water Yellowish solution Cloudy
KI + Cl2 water Brown solution Pink
KCl + Br2 water Yellowish solution Cloudy
(no reaction)
KI + Br2 water Brown solution Pale pink

KCl + I2 water Brown solution Pink

(no reaction)
KBr + I2 water Brown solution Pink
(no reaction)

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Discussion

The displacement reactions of the halogens can be used to determine the relative powers of the
halogens to act as oxidising agents. A halogen that is a strong oxidising agent will displace a
halogen that has a lower oxidising power from one of its compounds

In this part, the higher halogen (in period table) will displace the lower halogen in a
displacement reaction. Higher halogen is more likely to be reduced while lower halogen would
be oxidized.

For the set of reactions of potassium chloride reacts with bromine water, potassium chloride
reacts with iodine water and potassium bromide reacts with iodine water in this experiment;
the halogens cannot displace the halide ions in its compounds. This can be observed by the
colours of solution in the test tubes. The colour of chlorine is colourless solution (sometimes
very pale green solution), bromine is yellow solution and iodine is brown solution (sometimes
black solid is present).

The addition of dichloromethane is an alternative method for observing the displacement

reactions of halogens. A halogen will displace a less reactive halogen from one of its
compounds.

In part B, as we go down the Group 17, the halogen become less reactive. This is
because, as the atomic radius get bigger due to an extra filled electron shell, the outer electrons
become further from the nucleus and are also shielded by the extra full electron shell of negative
electron charge, therefore the outer electrons are less strongly attracted by the positive nucleus
as there would be any incoming electrons to form a halide ion.

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CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, in part A, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from

its compound. The reactivity of a metal can be referred from the reactivity series of metal. The

higher the position of metals in the series, the more reactive the metal. In a displacement

reaction, when a more reactive metal displace a less reactive metal, the more reactive metal

will gain electrons and are reduced. While a less reactive metal will loses electrons and are

oxidised.

In part B, as we go down the Group 17, the halogen become less reactive. Halogens

undergo redox reactions with metal halides in solution, displacing less reactive halogens from

their compounds. These displacement reactions are used to establish an order of reactivity

down Group 17 of the periodic table.

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QUESTIONS

PART A

1. Write the ionic half equations for any reaction that occur and hence the overall
equations.

Lead reacts with copper (II) nitrate Zinc reacts with iron sulphate

Pb (s) → Pb2+ (aq) + 2e- Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e-

Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- → Cu (s) Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- → Fe (s)

Pb (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Pb2+ (aq) + Cu (s) Zn (s) + Fe2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Fe (s)

Iron reacts with copper (II) nitrate Magnesium reacts with copper (II) nitrate

Fe (s) → Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- Mg (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2e-

Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- → Cu (s) Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- → Cu (s)

Fe (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Fe2+ (aq) + Cu (s) Mg (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

Iron reacts with lead nitrate Magnesium reacts with lead nitrate

Fe (s) → Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- Mg (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2e-

Pb2+ (aq) + 2e- → Pb (s) Pb2+ (aq) + 2e- → Pb (s)

Fe (s) + Pb2+ (aq) → Fe2+ (aq) + Pb (s) Mg (s) + Pb2+ (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + Pb (s)

Zinc reacts with copper (II) nitrate Magnesium reacts with iron sulphate

Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- Mg (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2e-

Cu2+ (aq) + 2e- → Cu (s) Fe2+ (aq) + 2e- → Fe (s)

Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s) Mg (s) + Fe2+ (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + Fe (s)

Zinc reacts with lead nitrate Magnesium reacts with zinc nitrate

Zn (s) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- Mg (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2e-

Pb2+ (aq) + 2e- → Pb (s) Zn2+ (aq) + 2e- → Zn (s)

Zn (s) +Pb2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Pb (s) Mg (s) + Zn2+ (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + Zn (s)

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2. For each reaction, identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agents.

In the above equations, the bold are reducing agent while the italic are oxidizing agent.

3. List the four metals observed in this experiment in the order of decreasing strength as
reducing agents.

Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu

PART B

1. Write the ionic equations for any reaction that occur.

Potassium bromide reacts with chlorine water

Cl2 (aq) + 2Br- (aq) → Br2 (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)

Potassium iodide reacts with chlorine water

Cl2 (aq) + 2I- (aq) → I2 (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)

Potassium iodide reacts with bromine water

Br2 (aq) + 2I- (aq) → I2 (aq) + 2Br- (aq)

2. List the halogens observed in this experiment in the order of strongest oxidizing agents.

F > Cl > Br > I

3. Based on the group 7 elements in the periodic table, explain your series.

As we go down the group 7 elements, the reactivity decreases. This is due to their decreasing
oxidising ability. Down the group, the smaller the halogen, the less the shielding effect and the
greater the effective pull of the nucleus. Hence, the easier the atom can pull an electron out of
another species.

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REFERENCES

1. Catherine E. Housecroft, Inorganic Chemistry, 4th edition, 2012, Pearson Education Limited.

2. Gary L. Miessler, Inorganic Chemistry, 3rd edition, Pearson Education International.

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