Period 3 Elements Experiment

Chemistry Practical Report: Period 3 Elements
Name: Titus Lee Date: 12th February 2014
Partners: Louella Jarillas, Vevaan Nguyen, Alexandro Francisco, Alif Ahmed
Aim: To examine the similarities and differences between the properties of a selection of the elements of Period 3
Hypothesis: Sodium will be the most reactive element and sulphur will be the least reactive
Equipment and Method: Found on Page 28-9 in Heinemann Chemistry 1 Student Workbook
Results:
Element Observations
Element
Observations
Metal or Non-Metal
Sodium
-Lustrous
-Forms oxides on surface rapidly
-A soft metal
-silvery-white colour
Metal
Magnesium
-Lustrous
-Forms oxides on surface
-Silvery-white colour
-Malleable but less than alkali metals
Metal
Aluminium
-Silvery-white metal
-Malleable but less than alkali earth metals
-Forms oxide on surface
Metal by observation, metalloid by properties
Sulphur
-Soft pale-yellow powder
-It is odourless
Non-metal

Reactions with water:
Element
Observations
Sodium
The sodium begins to fizz and heat up, releasing hydrogen. As the metal heats up, the hydrogen is ignited, giving of a yellow orange flame.
Magnesium
The magnesium bubbles in water, however the speed of this reaction is increased when heat is applied to the water
Aluminium
Seemingly, there is no reaction between aluminium and water, however there is a layer of aluminium oxide preventing it from reacting with water. It bubbles slightly when placed in heated water.
Sulphur
Sulphur does not react with water in normal conditions, even under heat.

Reaction with Hydrochloric Acid
Element
Observations
Magnesium
-The magnesium corrodes immediately, fizzing as it does, the metal corrodes completely, emitting heat.
Aluminium
-Appears not to react however the aluminium emits heat.
Sulphur
-No reaction at all

Safety Precautions: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927321 http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924951