Question

To show that iron is more reactive than copper, the correct procedure is to

• A. Prepare ferrous sulfate solution and dip the copper strip in it.
• B. Prepare copper sulfate solution and dip the iron strip in it
• C. Add dilute nitric acid on both the strips.
• D. Heat iron and copper strips both.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Prepare copper sulfate solution and dip the iron strip in it

The explanation for the correct option;-

(B) Prepare copper sulfate solution and dip the iron strip in it.

1. Copper sulfate $\mathbf{\left(}{\mathbf{CuSO}}_{\mathbf{4}}\mathbf{\right)}$ solution is used to demonstrate that iron is more reactive than copper.
2. It's been adorned with iron nails and later a brown coating forms on the surface of iron and the color of the copper sulfate changes from blue to light green.
3. This is owing to iron's high reactivity which causes copper irons to be displaced from its solution resulting in a ferrous sulfate solution.

Reaction;-

$\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{FeSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

The explanation for the incorrect options;-

Option (A);-

There will be no visible reaction. Hence, the purpose is not solved.

Option (C)

Both the metals strip will react with nitric acid$\mathbf{\left(}{\mathbf{HNO}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{\right)}$making it difficult to differentiate.

Option (D)

Both the metals strip will expand on heating. Hence, it is difficult to differentiate.

Hence, The correct option is (B).