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A piece of zinc is placed in three different solutions: lead nitrate, aluminium sulphate and silver nitrate. Which solution(s) will zinc be able to displace the metal from its solution?
Lead nitrate and silver nitrate
Only silver nitrate
Aluminium sulphate and silver nitrate
Lead nitrate and aluminium sulphate
Lead nitrate and silver nitrate
Zinc (Zn) is more reactive than lead (Pb) and silver (Ag) but less reactive than aluminium (Al). According to the reactivity series of metals, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution, which is why zinc displaces lead and silver but cannot displace aluminium.
Zinc (Zn) is more reactive than lead (Pb) and silver (Ag) but less reactive than aluminium (Al). According to the reactivity series of metals, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution, which is why zinc displaces lead and silver but cannot displace aluminium.
Think of it like a game of 'King of the Hill': a stronger person (Zinc) can push a weaker person (Lead or Silver) off the hill, but cannot push a stronger person (Aluminium) off.
Please Stop Calling Me A Careless Zebra Instead Try Learning How Copper Saves Gold (Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminium, Carbon, Zinc, Iron, Tin, Lead, Hydrogen, Copper, Silver, Gold).
Zn+Pb(NO3тАЛ)2тАЛтЖТZn(NO3тАЛ)2тАЛ+Pb
Zn+2AgNO3тАЛтЖТZn(NO3тАЛ)2тАЛ+2Ag
This is a single displacement reaction based on the electrochemical series. Zinc undergoes oxidation (ZnтЖТZn2++2eтИТ), losing electrons to the metal cations (Pb2+ or Ag+) in the solution, which then undergo reduction and deposit as solid metal. Since Aluminium is higher than Zinc in the series, Zinc cannot reduce the Al3+ ions in aluminium sulphate.
A metal with higher reactivity displaces a metal with lower reactivity.
Aluminium is more reactive than Zinc, hence no displacement occurs in aluminium sulphate.
Reactivity decreases down the series: Al > Zn > Pb > Ag.
Used in industrial metal recovery processes (e.g., extracting silver).
Cannot be used to extract metals like Aluminum or Magnesium from their salts.
Electroplating industry
Extraction of noble metals
Reactivity Series order: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Ag > Au.
Option B and C are wrong because they fail to identify all successful displacements or incorrectly suggest Al displacement.
A is correct тАФ Zinc is more reactive than Lead and Silver, allowing it to displace them from their respective solutions, while it is less reactive than Aluminium.
Always memorize the metal reactivity series order, as it is a frequent source of questions in competitive chemistry exams.
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