Chemistry Form 4 Experiment 5.1 [2026 Edition]

“Look!” Lin gasped. “The blue is disappearing! And… is that copper metal?”

“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.” chemistry form 4 experiment 5.1

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

He dropped the ribbon into the final bath of blue. “Copper + copper sulphate → no change

The reaction was instant and violent. The magnesium hissed like an angry cat. The blue solution boiled around the metal, turning pale within seconds. But unlike the zinc, the magnesium didn’t just produce a dusting of copper. It became coated in a hot, fizzing blanket of reddish-brown powder. The test tube grew warm to the touch.

Maya stood up, her voice steady. “Magnesium is the most reactive, then zinc, then copper. Because a more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution.”

“Exothermic,” Maya whispered, recording the temperature rise. The magnesium was even more reactive than zinc. It had ripped the copper from the solution with such force that it generated heat.