Question

Of the metals pb,hg,an,and mg, which will not spontaneously donate electrons to copper in solution?

Answer 1

Answer is: Hg (mercury).

Reactivity series is an empirical progression of a series of metals, arranged by their reactivity from highest to lowest (alkaline metals have highest reactivity and Noble metals lowest reactivity). This series are used to summarize information about the reactions of metals with acids or water, double displacement reactions (more reactive metals displace metals with lower reactivity) and the extraction of metals from their ores.

In this example, magnesium and lead are more reactive than copper, mercury is less reactive.