Question

why zinc is oxidised while copper is reduced?​

Answer 1

Answer:

In a zinc-copper voltaic cell, it is the copper(II) ions that will be reduced to copper metal. That is because the Cu 2+ ions have a greater attraction for electrons than the Zn 2+ ions in the other half-cell. Instead, the zinc metal is oxidized.

Answer 2

Explanation:

The electrical potential of a cell results from a competition for electrons. In a zinc-copper voltaic cell, it is the copper(II) ions that will be reduced to copper metal. That is because the Cu 2+ ions have a greater attraction for electrons than the Zn 2+ ions in the other half-cell. Instead, the zinc metal is oxidized. The reduction potential is a measure of the tendency of a given half-reaction to occur as a reduction in an electrochemical cell. In a given voltaic cell, the half-cell that has the greater reduction potential is the one in which reduction will occur. In the half-cell with the lower reduction potential, oxidation will occur. The cell potential (E cell ) is the difference in reduction potential between the two half-cells in an electrochemical cell.