Question

Why does the zinc and lead are more reactive than copper?

Answer 1

The metals copper, silver gold and platinum are less reactive thanhydrogen and they do not replace hydrogen from water or acid. Examples for metal-displacement reactions: Zinc can displace copperfrom copper sulphate solution and iron from ferrous sulphate solution. So zinc is more reactive than iron and copper

Answer 2

Answer:

Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb) are more reactive than Copper (Cu) because Zinc and Lead can displace Copper from its aqueous solution.

Concept:

A highly reactive metal can only displace a least reactive metal from its aqueous solution. This reaction is called displacement reaction.

Explanation:

Since Zinc and Lead are placed above Copper in the reactivity series, there are more reactive than Copper and displace it from its solution.

Example:

Let the aqueous solution of copper be Copper sulphate (CuSO4) and the reaction of Copper sulphate with Zinc and Lead be:

• Zn + CuSO4 --> ZnSO4 + Cu
• Pb + CuSO4 --> PbSO4 + Cu

Here, Copper cannot displace Pb or Zn from its solution as it is less reactive than Zn or Pb.

Reactivity Series:

1. Potassium
2. Sodium
3. Calcium
4. Magnesium
5. Aluminium
6. Zinc
7. Iron
8. Cobalt
9. Nickel
10. Lead
11. [Hydrogen]
12. Copper
13. Mercury
14. Silver
15. Gold

Hope it helps!