Question

On the basis of electrochemical series, how would you predict displacement of metals from salt solutions?

Answer 1

In the electrochemical series, metals are arranged in the decreasing order of their standard reduction potentials, not reactivity directly. This arrangement helps in predicting whether a particular metal can displace another metal from its salt solution.

A metal placed above another metal in the electrochemical series has a greater tendency to lose electrons and can therefore displace the metal below it from its salt solution.

For example, iron (Fe) is placed above copper (Cu) in the electrochemical series. Hence, iron can displace copper from copper sulphate solution.

\[\ce{Fe + CuSO4 -> FeSO4 + Cu}\]

This reaction shows that iron displaces copper from its salt solution, forming iron (II) sulphate and copper metal.