Question

According to a statement in our book, hydrogen sulphide in the atmosphere reacts with silver to form a black coating of silver sulphide. How can silver displace hydrogen from hydrogen sulphide being less reactive ?

Answer 1

It doesn't mean that silver reacts with hydrogen sulphide in a single step. Actually before reacting with hydrogen sulphide silver undergoes oxidation and form silver oxide. This silver oxide reacts with hydrogen sulphide and forms silver sulphide.