Metals and displacement: Which metal is commonly used to recover (displace) copper from an aqueous copper(II) sulfate solution? Use the metal activity series to decide which metal will displace Cu from CuSO₄. Choose the correct option.

Difficulty: Easy

Zinc (Zn)
Iron (Fe)
Silver (Ag)
Tin (Sn)

Correct Answer: Iron (Fe)

Explanation:

Concept/Approach
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. Both Zn and Fe are above Cu in the activity series, but scrap iron is commonly used industrially because it is inexpensive and effective.

Reaction
Fe(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → FeSO₄(aq) + Cu(s)

Why not Ag?
Silver is less reactive than Cu and will not displace it.

Final Answer
Iron (Fe)

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