Question

Magnesium is listed above zinc in the activity series. What will most likely happen when zinc particles are placed in magnesium sulfate solution? Zinc sulfate will form. No reaction will occur. Zinc magnesium will form. Solid magnesium powder will form.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is no reaction will occur.

Explanation:

Single displacement reaction is defined as the reaction in which more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its chemical reaction.

$AB+C\rightarrow CB+A$

C is more reactive element than element A.

The reactivity of metals is judged by the series known as reactivity series. Elements lying above in the series are more reactive than the elements lying below in the series.

We are given:

Magnesium lies above zinc in the reactivity series. So, if zinc particles lie in the solution of magnesium sulfate. The zinc particles will not displace magnesium ions from its solution because zinc is less reactive than magnesium.

Hence, no reaction will occur between them.

$Zn(s)+MgSO_4(aq.)\rightarrow \text{No reaction}$

Answer 2

No reaction will occur because magnesium is more reactive than zinc. If you did the reverse ( magnesium particles in zinc sulphate solution) than a reaction will occur in which the zinc will be displaced from solution.