Chapter 21, Problem 8STP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The relationship between ease of oxidation and the activity of metal needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: In oxidation, the oxidation state of the metal increases. It loses electrons. In an electrochemical cell, oxidation takes place at the anode. The general oxidation reaction is represented as follows:

  $\text{M}\left(s\right)\to {\text{M}}^{2+}\left(aq\right)+2e$

Explanation of Solution

In the activity series, metals are arranged from most reactive to least reactive. Here, metals placed above in the activity series are more reactive than metals placed below. Here, the reactivity of metals is related to their tendency to get oxidized. If a metal is taken in its solid state in an aqueous solution of another metal, whether it replaces the other metal from its solution or not depends on the position of both metals in the activity series. Here, the metal placed above in the activity series can replace the metal from its solution which is placed below it. Thus, the metal above in the activity series can easily get oxidized.