Question

What will happen if a strip of zinc is immersed in a solution of copper sulphate?

Answer 1

1. Chemical displacement reactions

Highly reactive metals when reacting with the solutions of metals with lower reactivity then these reactions will take place. The metal with higher reactivity displaces the metal with the lower reactivity from its compound solution.

2. Reaction of Zinc with Copper sulphate

When a strip of Zinc is immersed in copper sulphate $\left({\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\right)$ solution, the Zinc (Zn) displaces Copper from Copper sulphate solution, and Zinc sulphate $\left({\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\right)$is formed.

The chemical equation for the reaction is given below.

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