How do I plan an experiment to determine the reactivity of metals?

Question

I have an assignment, which is to design and plan an experiment to compare the reactivity of metals / halogens using salts of metals/ sodium halides. ( or any other suitable method ) Can anyone suggest a simple experiment with a rather simple setup? Kindly name all reagents and equipment used. :)Also, I need to describe what happens in each step of the experiment. Could anyone help me out?

PS: What are sodium halides? Just wondering.

Thanks!

I have an assignment, which is to design and plan an experiment to compare the reactivity of metals / halogens using salts of metals/ sodium halides. ( or any other suitable method )

Can anyone suggest a simple experiment with a rather simple setup? Kindly name all reagents and equipment used. :)Also, I need to describe what happens in each step of the experiment. Could anyone help me out?

PS: What are sodium halides? Just wondering.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The best demonstration I have used is to select about 10 different metals and use the nitrates of each of the same 10 types of metals.

Here are the steps to the lab my students use to set up an activity series of metals. I have shortened it to 4 types of metal so I don't have to type so much:

1) Obtain 4 small pieces of each metal - Ag, Mg, Fe, Zn
2) Using a 24-well spot plate put 1.0 mL of AgNO3 solution in wells 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, and 1-d.
3) Put 1.0 mL of Mg(NO3)2 solution in wells 2-a, 2-b, 2-c, and 2-d.
4) Put 1.0 mL of Fe(NO3)3 in wells 3-a to 3-d, and 1.0 mL of Zn(NO3)2 in wells 4-a to 4-d.
5) Put 1 piece of Ag in each of wells 1-a to 1-d. Observe the reactions. Write your observations on the data sheet.
6) Put 1 piece of Mg in each of wells 2-a to 2-d. Observe the reactions. Write your observations on the data sheet.
7) Repeat #6 with Fe in wells 3-a to 3-d and with Zn in wells 4-1 to 4-d.
8) Go back and check all of the wells in the plate to make sure no reactions have changed.
9) Use the information gathered to assemble an activity series for these metals. Put the metal with the most reactivity at the top and the metal with the least reactivity at the bottom.

Answer 2

Sodium halides are sodium salts comprised of any of the halogens (F, Cl, Br, I), for example NaBr.

I'm not sure what you are asking... for the reactivity of metals, you need different types of metals other than sodium. Using the halides you can compare the reactivity of the different halides, but not the metals.