Mapua eights: Science with Mr Wiffen

On the 25 of June room 10 went to one of the science labs in Motueka High School. Mr Wiffen one of the 6 science teachers taught us. We were working on different metals, water H2O and hydrochloric acid (HCL). The different types of metals we used were Copper Cu, Zinc Zn, Magnesium Mg, Tin Sn, Iron Fe, Calcium Ca, Lead Pb. There were two others that Mr Wiffen demonstrated for us because they were way too dangerous for us to experiment with by our selves. These metals were Sodium Na and Lithium Li. We were put into groups of 2 or 3. To get started we needed to get our test tubes (3 tubes) and a stand but most important item we need for our safety was the safety googles, because the gases could splat out, especially when we use the acid. We were given a few metals at a time, for the first experiments we used water all we did was place the metal in to the test tube of water and observed the reactions. The Calcium was the most reactive while the others would form a few bubbles in the water or non at all. The calcium bubbled and fizzed, the water turned a milky colour and the water became a lot warmer than before. But for the ones Mr Wiffen demonstrated, the Sodium was the most reactive. With the acid we did the same thing but we used a bunsen burner. We put the acid into the test tube and placed the metal into the acid. Once the metal was in the acid we placed out thumb over top of the test tube to trap any gases the metal has released. While waiting for the gases to rise to the top we set fire to a splint, we then took our thumb off of the test tube and hovered to flame over the tube to see it would make a pop sound, it only worked on the Magnesium. Calcium, Sodium and Lithium were the only metals that we weren't able to experiment with, with the acid. Magnesium is used in fire works so it makes a very bright light when set on fire, we were able to test this. We had to change the flame on to our bunsen burner from an orange flame to a blue flame, after that was done we put the magnesium in the flame with a pair of tongs and waited for it to shine. This was a very exciting experiment.