Question

In the refining of silver from silver chloride, copper metal is used. Why?

Answer 1

Answer:

The silver nitrate is in solution and the metallic copper will dissolve to form copper nitrate; as it does, it will precipitate the silver in solution as metallic silver. That is, copper is exchanged for the silver in solution and silver is replaced by the copper that is not in solution.

The following chemical reaction is involved:

2AgNO3(aq) +Cu (s) →2Ag (s) +Cu(NO 3 ) 2(aq)

Answer 2

To explain:

Why copper is used during refining of silver from SILVER CHLORIDE ?

Calculation:

First of all , you need to know the reactivity series of metals.

• Potassium
• Sodium
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Aluminium
• Zinc
• Iron
• Tin
• Lead
• Copper
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Here you can see that copper is more reactive as compared to silver.

So, copper will be able to displace silver from silver salts. For example:

$\boxed{ \sf Cu + AgCl \rightarrow CuCl_{2} + Ag}$

So, after adding copper , we are getting pure silver from its salt.

Similar displacement reactions:

$\boxed{ \sf Cu+AgNO_{3}\rightarrow Cu(NO_{3})_{2}+Ag}$

That is why COPPER IS USED.