Question

(a) How will you show that iron is more reactive than copper?
(b) Explain how a metal which is high up in the reactivity series obtained from its compound. Give equations also?

Answer 1

A)To prove that iron is more reactive than copper, the solution of copper sulfate is taken. Some iron nails are added to it. Later, it is observed that a brown coating is formed on the surface of iron and the color of copper sulfate solution has turned to light green from blue. This is due to high reactivity of iron which displaces the copper ions from its solution and forms ferrous sulfate solution.

B) Iron is high on the reactivity series while copper is present below it.So iron can displace copper easily from its salt solution by showing a change in the color of the solution.

$Fe\left(s\right)+CuS{O}_4\left(aq\right)\to FeS{O}_4\left(aq\right)+Cu\left(s\right)$