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Robert Longo February 17, 2016 The Activity Series – Pennies and Nails Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to test whether or not a reaction will take place between the copper acetate in the vinegar solution from the pennies and the iron nail, while deepening understanding of the activity series and how it can be used to predict a reaction. Results: After I allowed the pennies to sit in the vinegar and salt solution for some time in order to dissolve the copper oxide off the surface, I added the nail into the bowl and allowed it to sit for some time. I definitely noticed that a reaction took place, as the copper that was in the vinegar seems to accumulate on the surface of the nail, turning it a deep orange-red color. It seems I was not able to scrape off all of the galvanization from the surface of the nail, as the reaction occurred very strong on some parts of the nail’s surface, and not at all on others. The reaction that seemed to occur was Fe + Cu(CH 3 COO) 2 -à Fe(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 + Cu. This confirmed that iron is more reactive than copper, as it was able to displace the copper in the copper acetate found in the vinegar. What I Learned: This experiment was really able to give me a much stronger understanding of the activity series and its role in predicting whether or not a reaction would occur. If the experiment was reversed by dissolving iron oxide in vinegar and salt to form iron acetate and placing copper in the solution, a reaction would not occur because copper is less reactive than iron and would not be able to separate the iron from the acidic acid it formed a compound with. This experiment also allowed to a deeper understanding of oxidation and reaction with each metals reacting, with the acetic acid solution. The copper went through a reduction when it gained electrons by joining to the surface of the nail and the opposite happened with the iron, as it was oxidized when it joined with the acetic acid molecule in the solution.
