Metals in salt solutions – predicting reactions from standard electrode potentials

ChemistryReactions & RedoxAges 17–18

Dip a strip of Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu or Ag into CuSO₄, AgNO₃, FeSO₄ or ZnSO₄ solution. Students predict whether a reaction takes place from the standard electrode potentials E°, then watch metal deposit on the strip, the blue color of Cu²⁺ fade and the mass of the strip change on a balance. The ionic equation, E°cell, Δm and a results table are shown for every trial.