Question

Zinc liberates hydrogen gas when reacted with dilute hydrochloric acid whereas copper does not. Explain why?

Answer 1

Zinc (Zn) is placed above hydrogen in the activity series. It therefore, displaces hydrogen from dilute HCl.

`"Zn"("s") + 2"HCl"("aq") -> "ZnCl"_2("aq") + "H"_2("g")`

Copper is placed below hydrogen and therefore, does not react with dilute HCl.

Cu (s) + HCl (aq) → No action.