Question

What happens when a Zinc Strip is dipped into a Copper Sulphate Solution.

1)Write the equation for the reaction that takes place.

2) Name the type of reaction involved.

Answer 1

Reaction of Zinc with Copper sulfate:

• When zinc $\left(\mathrm{Zn}\right)$ strip is dipped into a coppe sulfate $\left({\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\right)$ solution, copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ is obtained along with zinc sulfate $\left({\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\right)$ solution.
• The chemical equation can be depicted as:

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

Displacement reaction:

• When an element displaces another element from its compound, a displacement reaction occurs.
• In the reaction of zinc with copper sulfate, zinc is a more reactive element than copper. Thus it will displace copper from its compounds.