Question 13
You must have seen tarnished copper vessels being cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice.

Explain why these sour substances are effective in cleaning the vessels.

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Solution

Copper reacts with moisture, and carbon dioxide in the air to form basic copper carbonate (green coating) and as a result, copper vessel loses its shiny brown surface.

The citric acid present in the lemon or tamarind neutralises the basic copper carbonate and dissolves the layer. That is why tarnished copper vessels are cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice to give the surface of the copper vessel its characteristic lustre.

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Give reason

1. Aluminum is more reactive than iron yet there is less corrosion of aluminum as compared to iron when both are exposed to air.

2. Tarnished copper vessels are cleaned with tamrind juice.

Write scientific reasons.

Lemon or tamarind is used for cleaning copper vessels turned greenish.

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