Summary:

In this experiment, a potential series is determined.

A potential series is made of a series of reduction half reactions arranged from the strongest
oxidizing agent to the weakest oxidizing agent. An oxidation-reduction reaction involves the
movement of electrons from one reactant to another. The oxidizing agent is the species that go
under reduction, which is the gain of electrons. The reducing agent is the species that go under
oxidation, which is the loss of electrons.
To produce the potential series for metals and hydrogen, pieces of Cu and Zinc metal were added
individually to a certain amount of the nitrates of the other metal in separate wells in a spot plate
and the observations were recorded. When Cu metal was placed in aqueous Zn(NO3)2, it
produced no reaction. When Zn metal was placed in aqueous Cu(NO3)2 , Cu metal plated out
onto the Zn surface. Therefore, Cu2+ is stronger oxidizing agent than Zn2+. Then, pieces of Cu and
Zinc metal were treated individually with aqueous AgNO3 solution and the observations were
recorded. The Ag metal plated out onto the surface of Cu and Zn metal respectively. Therefore,
Cu2+ and Zn2+ are both weaker oxidizing agents than Ag+. Then, pieces of Cu, Zn and Ag metal
were treated individually with a certain amount of aqueous HCl solution and the observations
were recorded. In the reaction of Zn metal and aqueous HCl solution, H2 gas was formed. On the
other hand, when Cu and Ag metal were treated individually with aqueous HCl solution, no
reaction was produced. Therefore, H+ is weaker oxidizing agent than both Cu2+ and Ag+, but
stronger than Zn2+. To produce the potential series for Halogens and Iron, a certain amount of
Br2, Cl2 and I2 were added individually to a certain amount of a mixture of cyclohexane and
water. The change in color of the cyclohexane layer was recorded for each reaction: Br2-Red, I2Purple, Cl2-colorless. Then, a certain amount of Cl2 water was added to a mixture of KBr and
cyclohexane and the change in color of the cyclohexane layer was recorded. As the reaction
proceeded, the colorless cyclohexane layer turned yellow. Therefore, Cl2 is stronger oxidizing
agent than Br2. A certain amount of I2 water was added to a mixture of KBr and cyclohexane and
the change in color of the cyclohexane layer was recorded. As the reaction proceeded, the
colorless cyclohexane layer turned pink. Therefore, Br2 is stronger oxidizing agent than I2.
Another certain amount of Br2 water was added to a mixture of KI and cyclohexane and the
change in color of the cyclohexane layer was recorded. As the reaction proceeded, the colorless
cyclohexane layer turned purple. Therefore, Br2 is stronger oxidizing agent than I2. A certain
amount of Cl2 water was added to a mixture of KI and cyclohexane and the change in color of
the cyclohexane layer was recorded. As the reaction proceeded, the colorless cyclohexane layer
turned pink. Therefore, Cl2 is stronger oxidizing agent than I2. After that, a certain amount of KBr
was treated with a mixture of cyclohexane, aqueous FeCl3 solution and K3Fe(CN)6 to test for the
presence of Fe2+ and record the observations. If Fe2+ was present, a dark blue precipitate of
Fe3[Fe(CN)6]2 would form. In this reaction, the dark blue precipitate did not formed. Therefore,
Br2 is stronger oxidizing agent than Fe3+. Then, another certain amount of KI was treated with a
mixture of cyclohexane, aqueous FeCl3 solution and K3Fe(CN)6 to test for the presence of Fe2+
and record the observations. In this case, the dark blue precipitate formed. Therefore, Fe3+ is
stronger oxidizing agent than I2. Other experiments have shown that I2 and Fe3+ are both weaker

oxidizing agents that Ag+, but stronger than Cu2+. On the other hand, Br2 is a stronger oxidizing
agent than Ag+.
The following potential series was produced:

Cl2 + 2e- 2ClBr2 + 2e- 2BrAg+ + e- Ag0

Fe3+ + e- Fe2+
I2 + 2e- 2ICu2+ + 2e- Cu0
2H+ + 2e- H2
Zn2+ + 2e- Zn0

Finally, reduction-oxidation reactions can show the relative oxidizing strengths between
halogens and metals. Thus, a potential series can be made from observations rather than
calculations.