Experimental Inquiry into Factors Affecting Chemical Reactions: Reaction of Zinc Metal and Water
WU Si-Mei1, CHEN Qing-Zhong2**, ZHU Cheng-Dong3, CHENG Su-Fang4, HU Hai-Ming5
1. Anhui Xiuning Middle School, Huangshan 245461, China; 2. Wuhu Education and Science Research Institute, Wuhu 241001,China; 3. Anhui Education and Science Research Institute, Hefei 230000, China; 4. Huangshan Education and Science Research Institute, Huangshan 245000, China; 5. Qimen No. 1 Middle School, Huangshan 245600, China
Abstract Taking the question “Why is the reaction between zinc and water difficult to occur” as context, this paper analyzes the reaction between zinc and water from both thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives and conducts experimental investigations. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that zinc can react with water. The innovative experiment utilized chelating agents such as EDTA tetrasodium salt to disrupt the protective film on the zinc surface. By increasing the temperature, constructing a galvanic cell, and enlarging the metal surface area, the hydrogen overpotential was reduced, thereby enabling the visualization of the reaction between zinc and water. This revealed the fact that zinc is capable of reacting with water. The improved experiment presents distinct phenomena, which effectively stimulates students’ enthusiasm for scientific inquiry and fosters the development of their disciplinary core competencies, including macroscopic identification and microscopic analysis, evidence-based reasoning and model cognition, and scientific inquiry and innovative awareness.
WU Si-Mei, CHEN Qing-Zhong, ZHU Cheng-Dong, CHENG Su-Fang, HU Hai-Ming. Experimental Inquiry into Factors Affecting Chemical Reactions: Reaction of Zinc Metal and Water[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Education, 2026, 47(19): 93-101.
