Chemistry O12

Insworld School Practicals - Kinetics

Catalysis of the reaction between zinc and sulfuric acid

Zinc reacts with sulfuric acid to produce hydrogen. The reaction is catalyses by
copper. The rate of reaction can be compared by means of the rate of production of
hydrogen gas bubbles.

Lesson Organization
This is a quick and easy experiment that can be done individually or in pairs.

Apparatus and chemicals

Eye protection
Each student or pair of students will require:
Test-tubes, 3
Test-tube rack
Measuring cylinder (10 cm3)
Dropping pipette
Granulated zinc, a few pieces
Copper turnings or powder, a few pieces/half a spatula
Dilute sulfuric acid, 1 mol dm-3 (Irritant)
Copper sulfate solution, 0.5 mol dm-3 (Low Hazard at the concentration used)

Procedure
a. Put a few pieces of granulated zinc into each of the three test-tubes. Try to have
approximately the same amount in each test-tube.
b. Add 5 cm3 of dilute sulfuric acid to test-tube 1. Note the rate of production of
gas bubbles.
c. Add a few copper turnings to test-tube 2. Make sure they are in contact with the
zinc. Add 5 cm3 of dilute sulfuric acid and note the rate of production of gas
bubbles.
d. Add 5 cm3 of dilute sulfuric acid to test-tube 3. Then add about 1 cm3 of the
copper sulfate solution using a dropping pipette.
di. Note the rate of production of gas bubbles.
dii.Note what happens to the colour of the copper sulfate solution.
diii.Note what happens to the surface of the pieces of zinc.
e. Write down your observations on the next page for each part ; b, c, di, dii, diii
Chemistry O12 Insworld School Practicals - Kinetics

Observations:

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(10 m)
Chemistry O12 Insworld School Practicals - Kinetics

Teaching notes
If the granulated zinc pieces are shiny then the reaction in test-tube 1 is slow. The
reaction may be faster if the zinc is not very pure. Bubbles of hydrogen form on the
surface of the zinc. The reaction is:

Zinc + Sulfuric acid → Zinc sulfate + Hydrogen

Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2

In test-tube 2, copper is the catalyst for the reaction, and the reaction should be
faster than in test-tube 1, but may not be as fast as test-tube 3.
In test-tube 3, zinc displaces copper from the copper sulfate solution and the
surface of the zinc goes black. The displaced copper metal then acts as a catalyst
for the reaction.
Zinc + Copper sulfate → Zinc sulfate + Copper
Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 + Cu(s)
There may be enough hydrogen produced in test-tube 3 for students to test for
using a lighted splint.