What will happen when dilute sulphuric acid is poured on a copper plate
Answers
Hi !,this will help u
If you go to the reference page you'll see a table called the Reactivity Series of Metals. You'll also see that magnesium, iron and zinc are above hydrogen. If you put each of these metals in dilute sulphuric acid (which like all acids contains hydrogen) they will be dissolved by the acid and hydrogen is released in exchange for the metal.
Copper, though, is below hydrogen so it cannot be exchanged for hydrogen gas, hence no reaction.
Scroll further down the page to see detailed descriptions of the reactions, i.e.:
Iron. Slow reaction with dilute sulphuric acid forming the soluble pale green salt Iron (II) sulphate and hydrogen gas.
Copper. No reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulphuric acid.
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/metals-non-metals/reconcept-series-metals.php#the-most-reactive-and-least-reactive-metals
Hot, concentrated sulphuric acid is a different matter but outside the scope of the question, which specifies "dilute".