9Fa6 Looking for patterns

When metals react with oxygen they turn into metal oxides and they gain in mass.

Sanjay wondered whether the gain in mass might be linked to the reactivity of the metal.

Clare wondered whether there was any relationship between the gain in mass and the position of
the element in the Periodic Table.

They collected the data in the table and tested their ideas. All the figures in the table refer to the
mass of metal oxide formed when 10 g of metal was heated and completely converted into the
metal oxide.

Metal Mass of oxide Increase Percentage Atomic Order of

formed (g) in mass increase number reactivity
aluminium 18.9 8.9 89 13 5
calcium 14.0 4 40 20 3
copper 12.5 2.5 25 29 9
iron 14.3 4.3 43 26 7
lead 10.3 0.3 3 82 8
magnesium 16.7 6.7 67 12 4
potassium 14.2 4.2 42 19 1
sodium 13.5 3.5 35 11 2
zinc 12.5 2.5 25 30 6

1 Copy the table.

2 Work out the increase in mass for each metal.
3 Calculate this as a percentage (remember that you started with 10 g of each metal).
4 Plot a scatter graph showing the percentage increase in mass and the order of reactivity of the
metals.
5 Look up the atomic number of each of the elements on the Periodic Table.
6 Plot a second scatter graph showing the percentage increase in mass against atomic number.
7 Were Sanjay’s or Clare’s ideas right? For each graph decide whether:
• there is a definite relationship between the variables, that applies to all the metals
• there is a relationship (a correlation) that applies to most of the metals – and if so,
which elements do not fit the trend
• there is definitely no relationship between the variables.
8 How sure are you about the conclusions that you have drawn? Are there any other different
elements that you could get data for, which would help you to come to more definite
conclusions?
9 What important factor has not been considered at all in this analysis that may help to explain
any anomalous results?

[ presenting, considering, evaluating ]

Adapted from Exploring Science QCA Copymaster File 9 © Pearson Education Limited 2003