Question

If you put a piece of zinc into a solution of copper (I) sulfate and allow the single replacement reaction to go to completion, how will you know which of the reactants is the limiting reactant? Write the balanced equation, including the states of matter of the reactants and products, to help support your answer.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Reaction of zinc metal in copper sulfate solution.

$\begin{array}{ll}\text { Oxidation : } & \mathrm{Zn}(s) \rightarrow \mathrm{Zn}^{2+}(a q)+2 e^{-}\\\text {Reduction : } & \mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q)+2 e^{-} \rightarrow \mathrm{Cu}(s) \\\hline \text { Full Reaction : } & \mathrm{Zn}(s)+\mathrm{Cu}^{2+}(a q) \rightarrow \mathrm{Zn}^{2+}(a q)+\mathrm{Cu}(s)\end{array}$

Zinc is listed above copper on the activity series, this means that zinc is more easily oxidized than copper. That is why copper(II) ions can act as an oxidizing agent when put into contact with zinc metal. Ions of any metal that is below zinc, such as lead or silver, would oxidize the zinc in a similar reaction.