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Product Highlights

• Observe which metals replace ions of another metal compound in solution and write balanced equations for each single-replacement reaction that occurs.
• High school teacher-led, student-engaged demonstration with enough materials for 5 performances.
• Carolina Kits 3D®—Labs that use phenomena to support NGSS and 3-dimensional instruction.

This demonstration introduces students to the phenomenon of the metal activity series. Students apply prior knowledge of single-replacement reactions as they develop a model for ranking metals according to chemical activity. They use evidence from the demonstration to support the claim that a more reactive metal will replace the ions of a less reactive metal in solution. Students write balanced chemical equations for each single-replacement reaction that occurs in the demonstration.

Time Requirement
Total, 25 minutes. Teacher prep, 10 minutes. Demonstration and discussion, 15 minutes.

Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that support 3-dimensional instruction for NGSS. Digital resources may include a teacher manual and student guide, pre-lab activities and setup videos, phenomenon videos, simulations, and post-lab analysis and assessments.

Performance Expectations
HS-PS1-2

Crosscutting Concepts
Patterns

Disciplinary Core Ideas
PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

Science and Engineering Practices
Developing and Using Models
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Learning Objectives

• Observe and record the reactions of several metals with other metallic ions in solution.
• Write balanced single-replacement equations for each reaction observed.
• Develop a metal activity series by ranking metals from high to low on the basis of their reactions with other metals’ ions.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should be familiar with oxidation-reduction reactions and have the ability to write balanced net equations for single-replacement reactions.