Which metal will displace nickel in a compound? A. Tin B. Arsenic C. Zinc D. Platinum
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is C. Zinc.
Explanation:
To determine which metal will displace nickel in a compound, we need to understand the concept of the reactivity series. The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in order of their ability to lose electrons, or their reactivity. The more reactive a metal is, the easier it is for that metal to displace another metal from its compound.
The series typically ranks metals as follows (from most to least reactive):
Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum > Zinc > Iron > Nickel > Tin > Lead > Hydrogen > Copper > Silver > Gold > Platinum
Based on this series, zinc (Zn) is more reactive than nickel (Ni). This means that zinc can displace nickel from its compounds in a reaction. Specifically, if you place zinc into a solution containing a nickel compound (such as nickel sulfate, NiSO₄), the zinc will give up its electrons and form a zinc compound while displacing nickel from the solution. This is a typical single displacement reaction.
Why the Other Options Do Not Work:
- A. Tin (Sn): Tin is less reactive than nickel, so it cannot displace nickel from its compound.
- B. Arsenic (As): Arsenic is a metalloid and does not typically behave as a metal in terms of displacing metals like nickel in compounds.
- D. Platinum (Pt): Platinum is one of the least reactive metals, much less reactive than nickel. Therefore, platinum cannot displace nickel in a compound.
Thus, zinc is the correct metal for displacing nickel in a compound due to its higher position in the reactivity series.