Why do ag and cu react spontaneously

This is consistent with the activity series, which tells us that copper is more easily oxidized than silver, and thus, would rather be oxidized than reduced.

Chemistry Electrochemistry Metal Activity Series. Truong-Son N. Mar 28, In this case it is 1. Related questions How does the metal reactivity series work? What is the metal activity series used for? Therefore, it is useful to have a list of elements in order of their relative reactivities.

The activity series is a list of elements in decreasing order of their reactivity. Since metals replace other metals, while nonmetals replace other nonmetals, they each have a separate activity series. The table below is an activity series of most common metals and of the halogens. These elements are very reactive and react readily to form compounds. For a single-replacement reaction, a given element is capable of replacing an element that is below it in the activity series.

This can be used to predict if a reaction will occur. Suppose that small pieces of the metal nickel were placed into two separate aqueous solutions: one of iron III nitrate and one of lead II nitrate. Looking at the activity series, we see that nickel is below iron, but above lead.

Therefore, the nickel metal will be capable of replacing the lead in a reaction, but will not be capable of replacing iron. In the descriptions that accompany the activity series of metals, a given metal is also capable of undergoing the reactions described below that section. For example, lithium will react with cold water, replacing hydrogen.

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