NCERT Activity 3.12 Class 10 Science Explanation

In this activity, we will learn how a metal displaces another metal from its solution in salt. We have already discussed the displacement reaction in detail earlier.

How Do Metals React with Solutions of Other Metal Salts?

Aim

To observe how a displacement reaction takes place metal and a metal salt solution

Materials Required

   1. Copper wire

   2. Iron nail

   3. Copper sulphate solution

   4. Iron sulphate solution

   5. Two test tubes

   6.  Test tube stand

Procedure

We take a piece of copper wire and a nail and rub them with sandpaper to clean them. Now we take two test tubes and fill the iron sulphate solution in one test tube and the copper sulphate solution in another.

 We dip an iron nail in the test tube containing copper sulphate solution and copper wire in iron sulphate solution.

We observe the changes in both test tubes after 20 minutes.

Observation

we can see –

  1.  A reddish-brown deposit on the nail, and the blue colour of the copper sulphate solution fades.

  2. There is no visible change in the test tube with copper wire in the iron sulphate solution.

 Explanation

 

In which test tube did a reaction occur?

(i)Reaction occurs in the test tube containing an iron nail dipped in copper sulphate solution.

(ii)The copper sulphate solution fades the light colour due to the formation of iron (II) sulphate.

(iii) At the same time, a brown deposit of copper takes place on an iron nail.

(iv)    Thus, the following reaction takes place:

Fe(s)  + CuSO₄(aq)  → FeSO₄(aq)         +    Cu(s)

(v) Iron is more reactive than copper and displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.

(vi)  A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt in the solution. This is called a displacement reaction.

 

On what basis could you confirm that the reaction takes place?

 The reddish-brown layer on the iron nail is copper metal, and the colour of the copper sulphate solution becomes faded. This confirms that a chemical reaction occurred.

 

Correlation with activity 3.9, 3.10 and 3.11

 

In activity 3.9 (reaction with oxygen), iron shows more

reactivity than copper.

In activity 3.10 (reaction with water), iron reacts with

steam, but copper does not react.

In activity 3.11 (reaction with dilute HCl), iron reacts

with acid, but copper does not react.

In this activity 3.12, iron is more reactive than copper.

 

Conclusion

This activity explains that iron is more reactive than

copper and a displacement reaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

   1. Why did the blue colour of copper sulphate fade?

Answer – Because iron displaced copper from the copper sulphate solution and formed a pale green ferrous sulphate solution.

   2. Why was there no reaction in the copper wire with the FeSO₄ solution?

Answer – Copper is less reactive than iron and cannot displace it from its solution.

   3. What is the reddish-brown coating on the iron nail?

Answer- Reddish brown coating is the deposition of copper metal on an iron nail.

  4. What type of chemical reaction takes place in this activity 3.12?

Answer – Displacement reaction

Related Topics Class 10 Science

1.  Activity 3.13

2. Activity 3.11

3. Solution of Chapter 3 Metals and Non-metals

4. MCQ Questions of Chapter 3

5. Extra Questions of Chapter 3

6. Solutions of Class 10 Science all chapters