Reactivity Trends (OCR Gateway GCSE Chemistry)

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Displacement Reactions

Displacement Reactions

Practical Skills Development

  • Safe use and careful handling of gases, liquids and solids, including:
    • Careful mixing of reagents under controlled conditions,
    • Using appropriate apparatus to explore chemical changes and/or products
  • Presenting observations and other data using appropriate formats

Aim

  • To use displacement reactions to identify the reactivity trend of Group 7 elements

Health & Safety Aspects

flammable-and-harmful-to-heath-hazard-symbols

  • Cyclohexane is also highly flammable so should not be near open flames 
  • Chlorine and bromine water are harmful so should be handled carefully and safety goggles worn
  • The fumes from chlorine and bromine are unpleasant so the reactions should be carried out in a well ventilated area or fume cupboard
  • Small volumes should be used to minimise the risk of these hazardous substances
  • Due to the hazards present this experiment is best carried out as a teacher demonstration

Materials

  • spotting or dimple tile
  • 0.1% solutions of Cl2, Br2 and I2
  • 0.1 mol / dm3 solutions of KCl, KBr and KI
  • cyclohexane, C6H12
  • Universal indicator paper

Method

  1. Three drops of the halogens are added to separate wells in the dimple tile and the colours recorded
  2. In a second set of wells, the same three halogen solutions are added separately, followed by three drops of potassium chloride
  3. The procedure is repeated in a third and fourth set of wells using potassium bromide and potassium iodide , respectively
  4. The colours of the resulting solutions are noted
  5. The halogen colours are more easily seen if they are withdrawn in a pipette and added to a test tube containing 1-2 cm depth of cyclohexane and shaken
  6. Finally, a piece of universal indicator is added, in turn, to each of the halogen solutions and the colour recorded
  7. Record all observations in suitable tables

Results

The Colour of the Halogen Solutions

7-1-1-the-colour-of-halogen-solutions

The Reactions of Halogens with Halide Ions

7-1-1-the-reactions-of-halogens-with-halide-ions

The Effect of Halogen Solutions on Indicator Paper

7-1-1-the-effect-of-halogen-solutions-on-indicator-paper

Conclusions

  • Chlorine appears to displace bromine and iodine from solutions of their compounds
  • Bromine displaces iodine from solutions of its compounds
  • A more reactive halogen displaces a less reactive one
  • The order of reactivity from this experiment is chlorine > bromine > iodine
  • Chlorine is a strong bleaching agent, bromine less so and iodine not at all

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Stewart

Author: Stewart

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Exam Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.