Question

If copper \[\left( {Cu} \right)\] reacts with hydrochloric acid \[\left( {HCl} \right)\] , what would happen?
(A) React vigorously
(B) No reaction
(C) React modestly
(D) React Slowly

Answer 1

Hint:To solve this question, we must first have some basic knowledge about noble metals such as Copper. Then we need to assess the properties related to its reactivity in different cases like with acids and then only we can conclude the correct answer.

Complete step-by-step answer:Before we move forward with the solution of this given question, let us first understand some basic concepts: Let us discuss metals and reactions with dilute acids briefly.As we know all metals do not react with the same rate.
\[{\text{K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au}}\]
*Potassium, Sodium and calcium are the metals with the highest reactivates. They react with dilute acids
at the room temperature itself.
*The metals of moderate reactivity are magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron and copper.
*Mercury, silver, gold are the metals with low reactivity.
*In the series the metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids to give salt and hydrogen gas.
*The metals below hydrogen do not react with dilute acids. Because they are less reactive than hydrogen and they cannot displace hydrogen from dilute acid.
It is obvious that copper will not react with hydrochloric acid for the simple reason it’s below hydrogen in the reactivity series. So, copper cannot replace the hydrogen in \[HCl\]to form $CuC{l_2}$ And Hence, $Cu\,(s)\,\, + \,\,HCl\,(aq)\,\, \to \,\,no\,\,reaction$

So, clearly we can conclude that the correct answer is Option (B).

Note:You should know that the most reactive element is fluorine, the first element in the halogen group and the most reactive metal is francium, which is the last alkali metal and the least reactive elements are the noble gases.