DUBOIS – How different metals react to hydrochloric acid proved to be a successful investigative lab for chemistry students at DuBois Central Catholic.
A DCC junior is shown using a pipette to assure the proper amount of HCL (hydrochloric acid) enters test tubes of magnesium, copper, zinc and aluminum.
Since the acid vaporizes quickly, the school’s Chemical Fume Hood assures the student an added safety measure, according to instructor Lisa Bradley.
Calculating density and reactivity, students could draw their own conclusions about trends in the Periodic Table, just not what the text teaches.
One student remarked, “It was really interesting to be able to get a better sense of how different elements can react with acid in a hands-on way.”