Question

Assertion (A): Zinc reacts with H₂SO₄ to give H₂ gas but copper does not.

Reason (R): Zinc has higher reduction potential than copper.

Options

• If both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

• If both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

• If A is true, but R is false.

• If both A and R are false.

Answer 1

If A is true, but R is false.

Explanation:

The assertion is true because zinc sits above hydrogen in the electrochemical series and easily displaces it from dilute H₂SO₄, whereas copper sits below hydrogen and cannot displace it. This reason is false because zinc has a lower (more negative) standard reduction potential (−0.76 V) than copper (+0.34 V). A lower reduction potential indicates a higher oxidation potential, so zinc is more reactive and can release hydrogen gas.