Chemistry Form 4 Experiment — 5.1

“Last one,” Ravi whispered, holding the magnesium ribbon with a pair of tongs. Puan Aishah wandered over. “Careful, Ravi. This one is dramatic.”

The solution turned from vibrant blue to a pale, cloudy colourless. The reddish-brown solid was pure, elemental copper. Zinc was the hero.

“Today,” she had announced, her voice crackling through the lab’s humid air, “you are all forensic chemists. A factory has spilled three different metals—magnesium, zinc, and copper—into a vat of copper(II) sulphate solution. Your job is to determine which metal is the ‘hero’ that reacts, and which are the ‘villains’ that remain inert.” chemistry form 4 experiment 5.1

“No reaction,” Maya noted, scribbling in her book. “Copper + copper sulphate → no change. That means copper is low in the reactivity series. It can’t kick itself out of its own salt.”

The experiment was simple, yet dangerous to a careless hand. Procedure 5.1: Investigate the reaction of metals with the salt solution of another metal. “Last one,” Ravi whispered, holding the magnesium ribbon

Later, as they washed the test tubes, Ravi looked at the reddish-brown copper residue stuck to the glass. “It’s like a chemical war,” he said. “The strong kick the weak out of their homes.”

Maya, the cautious one, read the steps aloud. “First, we label four test tubes. One is the control.” This one is dramatic

It was a Thursday afternoon, and the Form 4 Science lab smelled of antiseptic and old wood. Maya, Lin, and Ravi huddled over their workstation, a neat row of four test tubes clamped to a metal stand. Their teacher, Puan Aishah, had given them a puzzle.

“Correct. And the reactivity series order from this experiment?”

Only the blue solution. Nothing happened. It remained still, a calm witness.

“Magnesium!” the class shouted.