Question

Decide whether a chemical reaction happens in either of the following situations. If a reaction does happen, write the chemical equation for it. Be sure your chemical equation is balanced and has physical state symbols. situationchemical reaction? chemical equation

A strip of solid magnesium metal is put into a beaker of 0.053M ZnSO4 solution. yes no?

A strip of solid zinc metal is put into a beaker of 0.058M MgBr2 solution. yes no?

Answer 1

The reaction in each case is decided by the activity series given by :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au

If a metal comes earlier than another, it can displace it from its compound.
In our case, we can see that Mg comes before Al, hence Mg can replace Zn from its compound, and not vice versa.

Hence. The first case, i.e. A strip of solid magnesium metal is put into a beaker of 0.053M ZnSO4 solution.is valid

The equation is : Mg (s) + ZnSO₄ (aq) --> MgSO₄ (aq) + Zn (s) ppt.

The secon case. i.e. A strip of solid zinc metal is put into a beaker of 0.058M MgBr2 solution is invalid i.e. does not occur

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