Question -
Answer -
The results obtained have been tabulated as follows
| Metal | Iron(II) sulphate | Copper(II) sulphate | Zinc sulphate | Silver Nitrate |
| A | No reaction | Displacement | – | – |
| B | Displacement | – | – | – |
| C | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | Displacement |
| D | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction |
Use the Table above to answer the following questions about metals A, B, C and D.
1. Which is the most reactive metal?
2. What would you observe if B is added to a solution of Copper (II) sulphate?
3. Arrange the metals A, B, C and D in the order of decreasing reactivity.
Answer
(i) Metal B is the most reactive as it gives displacement reaction with iron (II) sulphate.
(ii) When metal B is added to copper (II) sulphate solution, a displacement reaction will take place because of which the blue colour of copper (II) sulphate solution will fade and a red-brown deposit of copper will be formed on metal B.
(iii)Metal B is the most reactive because it displaces iron from its salt solution. Metal A is less reactive because it displaces copper from its salt solution. Metal C is still less reactive because it can displace only silver from its salt solution and metal D is the least reactive because it cannot displace any metal from its salt solution. Hence, the decreasing order of reactivity of the metals is B > A > C > D.