Chapter 21, Problem 10STP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: Whether a copper strip placed in a solution containing zinc ions react spontaneously with zinc ions or not needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: If a metal loses electron/s, oxidation takes place. If the activity series of metals is examined taking hydrogen as a reference, the metals above hydrogen can easily get oxidized and metals below hydrogen can easily get reduced (as they have more reduction potential value).

Explanation of Solution

On moving top to bottom in the activity series, the reduction electrode potential increases thus, metals can easily get reduced.

On comparing copper and zinc, copper is placed below zinc thus, it has more reduction electrode potential and it more easily gets reduced and oxidation of zinc takes place.

Thus, if the copper strip is placed in a solution containing zinc ions, Cu will not react with zinc ions as it cannot replace it from its solution and the reaction does not occur spontaneously.