is iron is more reactive than copper . how
Answers
Yes!!! Because, iron is more flexible to release electrons and makes a stable cation than copper. Moreover iron has higher oxidation potential than copper. So iron is more reactive than copper.
More complicated answer... listed below ∨
Metals tend to give up electrons to form positively-charged ions, and negative ions or radicals (chlorine and other halogens, oxygen, sulfur, also sulfates, carbonates, nitrates, etc.) all like to collect those electrons and thus form "compounds". When they do so, a certain amount of "free energy" is released in the process. Thermodynamics is the study of the taking-in and giving-off of this energy... how and where it's stored, and under what conditions it can be exchanged. One of the basics of this science is that Nature will tend to favor reactions where it can produce more stable (lower overall energy) compounds at the expense of less stable compounds. Thus, if I have (for example) oxygen to react with a metal, and if iron oxide (which can take several forms... usu. FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4) is "more chemically stable" than copper oxide (CuO, Cu2O), then if I give them a chance, there is a strong "driving force" for them to react. When that happens, there will be a net tendency for oxygen ions to prefer union with iron ions, rather than their going back to copper ions. Keep in mind that this makes these reactions "possible". Other things, like "mixing" (can they get at each other) and "kinetics" (is there enough 'spark' to start the reaction and keep it going) also matter. I can take copper oxide powder and mix it with iron filings, put it in a coffee can and let it sit for a long, long time (years... maybe even centuries) and it probably will not react appreciably. The reactants have to be "together", AND they have to be able to "break free" of their current form, and they have to be able to break apart on a molecular level. Copper atoms must break free of oxygen, and the iron has to be able to absorb the oxygen. All of this may not be able (depending on the compounds and elements) to go very well at room temperature. But if I were to pour in a bottle of dilute hydrochloric acid (such as is found in drain cleaners, etc.), this would dissolve the iron and put it in solution. In that form, it might be able to dissociate the copper atoms enough so that the iron could react and form iron oxide (and/or iron chloride) But if you dissolve a water-soluble compound of copper (e.g. copper sulfate, usually blue colored and often used in pool cleaning chemicals), and then sprinkle iron filings into the solution, they will almost immediately turn into copper, right before your eyes. It all gets back to the "free energy balance". Which metal ion will give Nature the "biggest bang for her buck" when it sticks onto the negatively-charged ion (like oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, etc.)? Potassium, sodium, calcium? VERY REACTIVE! Aluminum, magnesium, etc... highly reactive. Iron, manganese, chromium... 'fairly reactive'. Copper, lead, silver... modestly reactive. Gold, platinum, iridium, rhodium... almost totally un-reactive.
I hope this helped you!!
Dear Student,
◆ Reactivity of Iron and Copper -
Reducing potential of Iron is more than that of copper. Hence, iron is more reactive than copper.
● For example -
When copper sulphate is allowed to react with iron, copper is displaced by iron to form ferrous sulphate and copper.
CuSO4 + Fe --> FeSO4 + Cu
This is called a displacement reaction.
Thanks dear for asking. Hope this helps you...