Question

Is that possible to store Copper sulphate solutions in a Zinc pot?

Answer 1

Displacement reaction:

• A displacement reaction is one wherein the atom or a set of atoms is displaced by another atom in a molecule.
• The general displacement reaction is $\mathrm{AB}+\mathrm{C}\to \mathrm{AC}+\mathrm{B}$ , where $\mathrm{C}$ is more reactive than $\mathrm{B}$.

Reaction of Copper sulphate with Zinc:

• Zinc is more reactive than Copper, so Zinc will replace the copper from its salt solution.

$\underset{\mathrm{Zinc}}{\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Copper}\mathrm{sulphate}}{{\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{sulphate}}{{\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Copper}}{\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$

• When the Copper sulphate solution is stored in a zinc pot, Copper ions in the Copper sulphate solution will be replaced by Zinc.
• Therefore, it is not possible to store Copper sulphate in a Zinc pot because Copper has more reduction potential than Zinc and Zinc reacts readily with Copper sulphate Zinc when reacted with Copper sulphate it displaces Copper ions from the solution