wiz-icon
MyQuestionIcon
MyQuestionIcon
1
You visited us 1 times! Enjoying our articles? Unlock Full Access!
Question

You are provided with two containers made up of copper and aluminium. You are also provided with solutions of dilute HCl dilute HNO3, ZnCl2 and H2O. In which of the above containers these solutions can be kept?


Open in App
Solution

Step 1: Reactivity of copper in different solutions:

Dilute HCl:

  • Because copper does not interact with dilute H2O, it could be handled in a copper jar.

Dilute HNO3:

  • Dilute HNO3 cannot be retained in a copper vessel due to the aforementioned chemical reaction:
  • The reaction can be depicted as:
    3Cu(s)+8HNO3(aq)3Cu(NO3)2(aq)+2NO(g)+4H2O(l)

ZnCl2:

  • ZnCl2 can be maintained in a copper vessel since there is no interaction because copper is a less active metal than zinc and cannot displace from ZnCl2.

H2O:

  • As there is no interaction between copper and water, water can be collected in a copper vessel.

Step 2: Reactivity of Aluminium with different solutions:

Dilute HCl:

  • Because aluminium interacts with dilute HCl to generate its salt, it cannot be preserved in an aluminium container.
  • The chemical reaction can be depicted as:
    2Al(s)+6HCl(l)2AlCl3(aq)+3H2(g)

Dilute HNO3:

  • Aluminium reacts with nitric acid to form a passive layer of aluminium oxide(Al2O3) which protects the aluminium from further oxidation. Therefore dilute nitric acid can be stored in an aluminium vessel.
  • The chemical reaction can be depicted as:

Al(s)+6HNO3(aq)Al(NO3)3(aq)+3NO2(g)+3H2O(l)

ZnCl2:

  • Aluminium being a more active metal than zinc displaces the latter from its solution, thus zinc chloride cannot be stored in the aluminium vessel.
  • The chemical reaction can be depicted as:
    2Al(s)+3ZnCl2(aq)2AlCl3(aq)+3Zn(s)

H2O:

  • Aluminium does not react with cold water and when attacked by steam also, it forms a protective aluminium oxide (Al2O3 ) layer which prevents further reaction.
  • The chemical reaction can be depicted as:
    2Al(s)+3H2O(l)Al2O3(s)+3H2(g)

Step 3: The choice of vessel for solutions is given below:

  • Dilute HCl- Copper vessel
  • Dilute HNO3- Aluminium vessel
  • ZnCl2- Copper vessel
  • H2O - Copper vessel

flag
Suggest Corrections
thumbs-up
16
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
similar_icon
Related Videos
thumbnail
lock
CHEMISTRY
Watch in App
Join BYJU'S Learning Program
CrossIcon