Would it make a difference if you waited before putting the metal in the water? Why?
We are testing the reaction of metals with water. We have to scratch each metal to expose some bare surface and immediately place it in the water/phenolphtaalien solution.
We are testing the reaction of metals with water. We have to scratch each metal to expose some bare surface and immediately place it in the water/phenolphtaalien solution.
1 Answer
Nov 29, 2017
Yes.
Explanation:
The reason metal is scratched before dropped in water is to get rid of any oxide layer that has formed on the metal due to it being exposed to air (oxygen).
If you wait too long before putting the metal in the water, oxygen will again react with the metal creating yet another oxide layer.
This oxide layer 'insulates' the pure metal beneath it and makes it not as reactive/not reactive at all.
