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    PracticeAQA GCSEAQA GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier Paper 1Question 08.5
    Easy1 markShort Answer
    Chemical changesReactivity SeriesDisplacement ReactionsObservations

    AQA GCSE · Question 08.5 · Chemical changes

    A student investigated the reactivity of four different metals, A, B, C and D. The student added each metal to aqueous solutions of each of the metal sulfates and observed whether a reaction took place. Give one observation that would show a reaction took place.

    How to approach this question

    Think about the visible signs that a chemical reaction is happening. What might you see, feel, or hear? In a displacement reaction between a metal and a metal salt solution, what changes might occur?

    Full Answer

    A colour change / solid forming / temperature change / bubbles.
    When a more reactive metal is added to a solution of a less reactive metal's salt, a displacement reaction occurs. The more reactive metal dissolves, and the less reactive metal is deposited as a solid. This leads to several possible observations:\n- **Colour change:** The solution might change colour (e.g., blue copper sulfate solution becomes colourless as copper is displaced). The metal itself might change colour as a new metal is coated onto it.\n- **Solid forming:** A new solid (the displaced metal) appears, which might look like a powder or a coating on the original metal.\n- **Temperature change:** Displacement reactions are often exothermic, so the solution might get warmer.\n- **Bubbles/fizzing:** If the metal reacts with water or acid present, bubbles of gas might be seen.

    Common mistakes

    ✗ Just saying "a reaction happens".\n✗ Giving an observation that is not typical for this type of reaction (e.g., a smell).
    Question 08.4All questionsQuestion 08.6

    Practice the full AQA GCSE Chemistry Foundation Tier Paper 1

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