Question Constellation Sign up for free AQA · GCSE · Chemistry · Higher
Choosing metals for salt preparation
Some salts can be produced by reacting sulfuric acid with a metal. Neither copper nor sodium is used to produce a salt with sulfuric acid.
Give one reason why each metal is not used.
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Marking points
- 1 Copper field explains that copper does not react with sulfuric acid or is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.
- 2 Sodium field explains that the reaction would be dangerously vigorous, could explode, or get too hot.
Full-mark answer
Copper: copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, so it does not react with sulfuric acid. Sodium: the reaction would be dangerously vigorous and could explode.
Why this answer loses marks
Copper is not reactive enough; sodium is reactive.
Place copper relative to hydrogen and state the specific safety consequence for sodium.