Question

What will happen if a strip of copper is kept immersed in a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO₃)?

Answer 1

When a strip of copper metal is immersed in a silver nitrate solution for some time, the solution gradually turns blue, and a shining greyish-white deposit of silver metal forms on the copper strip.

\[\ce{\underset{(Colourless solution)}{\underset{Silver nitrate}{2AgNO3_{(aq)}}} + \underset{(Red-brown)}{\underset{Copper}{Cu_{(s)}}} -> \underset{(Blue solution)}{\underset{Copper nitate}{Cu(NO3)2_{(aq)}}} + \underset{(Greyish-white)}{\underset{Silver}{2Ag_{(s)}}}}\]

Copper metal displaces silver from the silver nitrate solution, forming copper nitrate and silver metal. The solution turns blue due to the formation of copper nitrate. This displacement transpires due to copper’s greater reactivity compared to silver.