A student is given three metals, X, Y and Z to identify. The metals are magnesium, iron and copper. Plan an investigation to identify the three metals by comparing their reactions with dilute hydrochloric acid. Your plan should give valid results. – 6096

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1. To identify the three unknown metals (X, Y and Z),

   1.Add a small piece of each metal to separate test tubes containing the same volume and concentration of dilute hydrochloric acid.

   2.Observe the reaction and measure the temperature change for each metal using a thermometer.

   3.Compare the rate of bubbling (effervescence) to see how fast hydrogen gas is produced.

   4.Record the colour of the resulting solution if it changes.

   5.The metal that does not react (no bubbles or temperature change) is copper.

   6.The metal that reacts the fastest, with more bubbles and higher temperature increase, is magnesium.

   7.The third metal that reacts more slowly than magnesium but faster than copper is iron.

   This allows us to match X, Y, and Z to magnesium, iron, and copper based on how strongly they react with the acid.

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