Answer to Question #132120 in General Chemistry for Van Hnem Sung

Question

Copper metal is used to precipitate silver ions from solution( by reducing them to silver metal). Could copper also cause zinc ions to precipitate in this way?

Answer 1

QUESTION # 132120

Copper metal is used to precipitate silver ions from solution (by reducing them to silver metal). Could copper also cause zinc ions to precipitate in this way?

ANSWER

copper is above silver in the reactivity series it is therefore more reactive than silver and will displace silver ions from the solution. The copper will be oxidized to cupric ion and the silver ion reduced to silver metal according to the equation.

2Ag⁺(aq) + Cu(s) → 2Ag(s) + Cu²⁺(aq)

Zinc is more reactive than copper since it is above copper in the reactivity series. A less reactive metal cannot displace a more reactive metal from solution. Copper therefore cannot displace zinc from its salt solution

Zn²⁺(aq) + Cu(s) → no reaction