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Question
Among Sodium, Potassium, Zinc and Copper which metal can't displace H2 gas from HCl?
Among Sodium, Potassium, Zinc and Copper which metal can't displace H2 gas from HCl?
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Solution
The correct option is C Copper
According to the electrochemical series, the higher the metal situated in the series, the more reactive it is. If a metal wants to displace another element from a compound, the metal must be situated higher than that element in the electrochemical series.
For example if a metal wants to displace Hydrogen from HCl, the metal must be placed above Hydrogen in the electrochemical series.
Among the above mentioned metals, only Copper lies below Hydrogen in the series. All other metals lie above Hydrogen and thus all other metals can displace H2 from HCl but Copper can't since copper lies below Hydrogen in the series.
It can also be explained in another way. Cu has a positive standard electrode potential and it lies towards the bottom of the electrochemical series. Metals lying at the bottom are good at accepting electrons. They are good oxidizing agents. Hence copper is a good oxidizing agent. And thus Copper can't reduce HCl to H2.
Thus, Copper is the correct answer.
According to the electrochemical series, the higher the metal situated in the series, the more reactive it is. If a metal wants to displace another element from a compound, the metal must be situated higher than that element in the electrochemical series.
For example if a metal wants to displace Hydrogen from HCl, the metal must be placed above Hydrogen in the electrochemical series.
Among the above mentioned metals, only Copper lies below Hydrogen in the series. All other metals lie above Hydrogen and thus all other metals can displace H2 from HCl but Copper can't since copper lies below Hydrogen in the series.
It can also be explained in another way. Cu has a positive standard electrode potential and it lies towards the bottom of the electrochemical series. Metals lying at the bottom are good at accepting electrons. They are good oxidizing agents. Hence copper is a good oxidizing agent. And thus Copper can't reduce HCl to H2.
Thus, Copper is the correct answer.
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