What is the purpose of adding Zn or Al in a blue Copper (CuSO_4) solution?
1 Answer
The purpose is to compare the reactivity of aluminum and zinc to copper. If the aluminum and zinc are more reactive than copper, each will undergo a single replacement reaction with copper sulfate, producing the metal copper as a product.
Explanation:
You are observing whether a single replacement (single displacement) reaction will take place between the elements Zn or Al by adding each to a copper(II) sulfate solution.
The following illustration indicates what happens when a single replacement reaction occurs involving metals.
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We can determine whether a single replacement will take place by comparing the locations of the metals on a metal activity series, or list. A metal on the list can replace any of the metals below it.
The following is a metal activity series.
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As you can see, aluminum and zinc are above copper on the activity series, so the aluminum and zinc will replace the copper in the copper sulfate solution.
