Question

Why cannot we store silver nitrate solution in copper vessel?

Answer 1

• We cannot store silver nitrate $\left({\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\right)$ solution in a copper $\left(\mathrm{Cu}\right)$ vessel because the reactivity of copper is high than the silver metal as given in the reactivity series which results in the displacement of silver by copper.
• Displacement Reaction taking place in the container:

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{AgNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to \mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Copper}\right)(\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{nitrate})(\mathrm{Copper}\mathrm{nitrate})\left(\mathrm{Silver}\right) \end{gathered}$$

• Here, copper displaces silver from the silver nitrate solution and forms the copper nitrate$\left[\mathrm{Cu}{\left({\mathrm{NO}}_3\right)}_2\right]$ and hence We cannot store Silver nitrate in a Copper vessel.