What happens when a piece of Silver metal is added to Copper sulfate solution?
Also, write the balanced chemical equation if the reaction occurs.
1. Displacement reactions
Displacement reactions involve reactions in which a more reactive metal displaces a lesser reactive metal from its solution The products of a displacement reaction can be predicted from the reactivity series of metals. The reactivity series arranges the metals in the order of reactivity with dilute acids. Metals placed above a given metal in the reactivity series can cause its displacement.
Some of the elements above hydrogen in the reactivity series include potassium , sodium , magnesium , zinc , etc. Some of the metals that come below hydrogen in the reactivity series include copper , silver , gold etc.
Displacement reactions occur when a more reactive metal comes in contact with the solution of a less reactive metal. If a less reactive metal comes in contact with the solution of a more reactive metal, no reaction takes place.
2. Silver in Copper sulphate solution
Silver metal and copper metal are placed below hydrogen in the reactivity series. But the reactivity of copper is higher than the reactivity of silver as silver is a non-reactive metal.
Therefore, silver cannot displace copper from Copper sulphate solution. When silver is added to Copper sulphate solution, copper remains in the solution and silver remains in metallic form.
Therefore, no reaction occurs.