Samples of four metals A, B, C and D were taken and were added to the following solutions one by one. The results obtained have been tabulated and answer the questions that follow:
Metal - Solution in which metal is added
A
Iron(II) sulphate - No reaction
Copper(II) sulphate - Displacement
Zinc Sulphate - ....
Silver nitrate - .....
B
Iron(II) sulphate - .........
Copper(II) sulphate - No reaction
Zinc Sulphate - ....
Silver nitrate - .....
C
Iron(II) sulphate - No reaction
Copper(II) sulphate - No reaction
Zinc Sulphate - No reaction
Silver nitrate - Displacement
D
Iron(II) sulphate - No reaction
Copper(II) sulphate - No reaction
Zinc Sulphate - No reaction
Silver nitrate - No reaction
Based on the activity series, the relative position of the metals involved in solutions is: Zn > Fe > Cu > Ag. On the basis of the results given in the table.
- Metal ‘A’ is more reactive than copper and less reactive than iron.
- Metal ‘B’ is more reactive than iron and less reactive than zinc.
- Metal ‘C’ is more reactive than silver and less reactive than copper.
- Metal ‘D’ is equally or less reactive than silver. In the light of above the information, we can conclude that:
(a) Metal ‘B’ is the most reactive.
(b) Since ‘B’ is more reactive than iron, it is also more reactive than copper. This means that it would displace copper from copper(II) sulphate solution. The blue colour of solution will slowly fade.
(c) The decreasing order of reactivity of metals is: B > A > C > D.