Question

Iron can react with copper sulphate solution to form iron sulphate and copper, but copper cannot react with iron sulphate to form copper sulphate and iron. Explain?

Answer 1

• Iron is more reactive than copper.
• Hence iron can displace copper from copper sulphate solution as copper is less reactive than iron.
• Therefore, copper cannot react with iron sulphate to form copper sulphate and iron.
• ${\mathrm{CuSO}}_4+\mathrm{Fe}\to {\mathrm{FeSO}}_4+\mathrm{Cu}$
• Above reaction shows iron reacts with copper sulphate and forms iron sulphate and copper.
• This is a displacement reaction.