Analyze: Rank the metals you tested from most to least reactive. What criteria and observation did you use to do this? Order of reactivity of metals: K> Na> Li >Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Pb. This order is evident from the ways they reacted. Since K produced the most light, sound and gas than any of the metals it is considered the most reactive. The order Na> Li > Ca is based on gas production; Na produced the most, Li the second most and Ca the least Among Mg, Zn, Fe and Pb, Mg produced significantly more heat and gas than rest of the three. Zn produced more gas bubbles in the hydrochloric acid, whereas the iron just slightly changed colour Pb did not react at all, showing it’s inertness/unreactivity. Did any metal(s) not react in your experiment. …show more content…
From this, it can be inferred that Pb is a nearly inert metal in terms of reactions. It can also be proven with the theory that metals more right and lower on the periodic table are less reactive since Pb is at the most lower-right in comparison to the other metals It also certain that Pb being nearly inert could be used for consumer products, as being an unreactive metal makes it safe for consumers to use. Conclusion What is the relationship between the date of discovery of a metal and how reactive it is? Alkali metals and alkaline earth metals are the most reactive among all metals. Since they do not occur freely in nature it was difficult for scientists in earlier centuries to discover them; they did not have tools to extract alkali metals and observe their reactivity in their pure form. The only metals available were usually unreactive like Au, Fe, Cu etc. In later times, humans had tools to extract alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, allowing them to view the pure metals and test their reactivity with other substances. Therefore they were discovered later, in comparison to many unreactive metals Explain why copper is used as a roofing material for large