Question

Zinc or copper, which can displace hydrogen from dil h2oso4?

Answer 1

Zinc can displace hydrogen from dil H₂SO₄.

• This is so because the value of standard reduction potential of copper is lesser than that of hydrogen but zinc has greater standard reduction potential

• Zinc lies above hydrogen whereas copper lies below hydrogen in the electrochemical series.

• So zinc is more reactive than H⁺ whereas copper is less reactive.

• Therefore, zinc reacts with dilute H₂O but copper cannot liberate H₂ gas by reaction with dilute H₂SO4.