Question

why does zinc react with dilute sulphuric acid and copper doesn't ?

Answer 1

it is because zinc lie above hydrogen in reactivity series while copper lie below hydrogen in reactivity series. Therefore zinc displaces hydrogen from sulphuric acid and produces zinc sulphate while copper being lying below hydrogen can't displace it from sulphuric acid and thus don't react with it.
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Answer 2

Hey Tron24,

Zinc is more reactive than hydrogen and it displaces hydrogen from dilute acids. Zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid to form zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas is evolved. This is a single displacement reaction of a non-metal by a metal.

Copper does not react with dilute sulphuric acid as its reduction potential is higher than that of hydrogen. Copper does not displace hydrogen from non-oxidising acids like HCl or dilute H2SO4. ... So, when copper is heated with conc.H2SO4, a redox reaction occurs and the acid gets reduced to sulphur dioxide.

hope dis answer helps u!

With regards,