Sulfuric acid is dripped onto samples of three metals: silver, =zinc, and aluminium
a) Use the activity series to determine whether a reaction will occur with each metal
b) Write a chemical equation for each reaction that occurs
And what is your trouble with the question. Do you have the activity series of metals? Do you know what that means? Can you write the equation after you know which ones will/will not react?
a) To determine whether a reaction will occur between sulfuric acid and each metal, we can use the activity series. The activity series is a list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity. If a metal is higher in the activity series than another metal, it is more reactive and will displace that metal in a chemical reaction. If a metal is lower in the activity series, it will not displace another metal and no reaction will occur.
Here is a simplified activity series:
- Potassium (K)
- Sodium (Na)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Aluminum (Al)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Iron (Fe)
- Nickel (Ni)
- Lead (Pb)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Copper (Cu)
- Silver (Ag)
- Gold (Au)
b) Based on the activity series, we can determine the reactivity of each metal with sulfuric acid:
- Silver (Ag): Silver is below hydrogen in the activity series, so it is less reactive than hydrogen. Therefore, it will not react with sulfuric acid.
- Zinc (Zn): Zinc is above hydrogen in the activity series, so it is more reactive than hydrogen. Therefore, it will react with sulfuric acid. The chemical equation for this reaction is:
Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2
- Aluminum (Al): Aluminum is also above hydrogen in the activity series, indicating that it is more reactive. Therefore, it will react with sulfuric acid. The chemical equation for this reaction is:
2 Al + 3 H2SO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3 H2
In summary, a reaction will occur between sulfuric acid and zinc as well as aluminum, but not with silver.