Question

When a strip of red-brown metal X is placed in a colourless salt solution YNO₃ then metal Y is set free and a blue coloured salt solution X(NO₃)₂ is formed. The liberated metal Y forms a shining white deposit on the strip of metal Х.

1. What do you think metal X is?
2. Name the salt YNO₃.
3. What could be metal Y?
4. Name the salt X(NO₃)₂.
5. What type of reaction takes place between metal X and salt solution YNO₃?

Answer 1

1. Metal X is copper (Cu). Copper is a well-known red-brown metal that dissolves to form a distinctive blue Cu(NO₃)₂ solution.
2. Silver Nitrate (AgNO₃)
3. Metal Y is silver (Ag). Silver forms a shining white metallic deposit on the copper strip.
4. Copper nitrate (Cu(NO₃)₂)
5. A single displacement reaction takes place between metal X and salt solution YNO₃.
   \[\ce{Cu + 2AgNO3 -> Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag}\]