Question

The position of some metals in the electrochemical series in decreasing electropositive character is given as Mg > Al > Zn > Cu > Ag. What will happen if a copper spoon is used to stir a solution of aluminium nitrate?
A. The spoon will get coated with aluminium
B. An alloy of copper and aluminium is formed
C. The solution becomes blue
D. There is no reaction

Answer 1

Hint: A displacement reaction defines the reaction in which the replacement of a less reactive metal happens from its compound due to the action of a more reactive metal. Here, we have to find out whether the displacement reaction of aluminium nitrate happens or not due to copper.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Let's understand the reactivity series. It is a list of metals whose arrangement is done on the basis of decreasing order of their reactivity. The metals present at the top are the most reactive in nature such as sodium and at the bottom least reactive metals such as platinum are present.

Here, the reactivity series is given as Mg > Al > Zn > Cu > Ag. We can see that magnesium has the highest reactivity and the silver is least reactive. As copper has less reactivity than aluminium, therefore, there is no reaction of copper with aluminium nitrate when a copper spoon is used to stir the solution of aluminium nitrate. So, no displacement reaction occurs.
Therefore, option D is right.

Note: There is the use of displacement reaction in many fields such as extraction of metals. Carbon is a non-metal which is readily available and cheap. Its reactivity is more than metals like iron, copper, and lead. Therefore, the extraction of metal from their oxides is possible by using carbon.