Experiment 6.

7, page 76 - 77
Problem Statement: Can an electrochemical series of metals be
constructed based on the potential difference between two
metals?

Hypothesis : By using different pairs of metals and determining

the negative terminal and cell voltage, an electrochemical series
can be constructed.

Variables :
a. Manipulated variable : Type of metal
b. Responding variable : The cell voltage and the negative
terminal
c. Fixed variables : The type and concentration of
electrolyte, copper electrode
Apparatus:
Voltmeter
Beaker
Connecting wires with crocodile clips
Materials:
Dilute sulphuric acid, H2SO4
Copper strips
Lead strip
Iron strip
Zinc strip
Aluminium strip
Magnesium strip
Sandpaper
Data and Observation:
Pair of electrodes Voltage(V) Negative terminal
Magnesium and copper 2.7 Magnesium
Aluminium and copper 2.0 Aluminium
Zinc and copper 1.1 Zinc
Iron and copper 0.8 Iron
Lead and copper 0.5 Lead

Inferences :
The distance between magnesium and copper in the
electrochemical series is the furthest compared to the other
pairs of electrodes. Thus, magnesium/copper has the highest
voltage.

Discussions :
1. For the pair of magnesium and copper electrodes,
Magnesium is the negative terminal while copper is the
positive terminal.
At the negative terminal:
Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2e-
At the positive terminal:
Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
The electrons flow from the negative terminal to the
positive terminal through the external circuit.

Conclusion :
The descending order of electropositivity of metals in the
electrochemical series is magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, lead,
and copper. Therefore, the hypothesis is accepted.