YOU are provided with two containers made up of copper and aluminium. You are also provided with solutions of dil. HCl, dil. HNO3, ZnCl2 and H2O. In which of the above containers, these solutions can be kept?
The container made up of copper or aluminium is suitable for storing some solutions. This can be decided by studying their reactions with Cu and A1 (which also depend on the respective position in activity series).
(i) Reactions of copper with
(a) Dil. HCl
Cu + HCl ----> No reaction
So, it can be stored in Cu container.
(b) Dil. HNO3
Being a strong oxidising agent, dil. HNO3 reacts with copper, so it cannot be stored in copper container.
© ZnCl2
Copper is less reactive than zinc, so it does not react with ZnCl2 solution. Therefore, it can be stored in copper container.
(d) H2O
Copper does not react with water. So, its container can be used to store H2O.
(ii) Reactions of aluminium with
(a) Dil. HCl Al reacts with dil. HCl, so it cannot be kept in aluminium container.
(b) Dil. HNO3
When dil. HNO3 is kept in Al container, it forms a protective layer of aluminium oxide on it, therefore it can be kept in Al container.
© ZnCl2
Al is more reactive than zinc, so it cannot keep ZnCl2 solution in it.
(d) H2O
Aluminium does not react with water (hot or cold). Therefore, water can be kept in aluminium container. Aluminium is attacked by steam to form, aluminium oxide and hydrogen.
