Question

What happens when a piece of silver metal is added to copper sulphate solution?
A) Silver sulphate is formed
B) Silver displaces copper sulphate
C) Oxygen gas is evolved
D) No reaction

Answer 1

We know very well that according to electrochemical series a more reactive element placed at the top can easily displace a less reactive element placed at bottom from their salt solution and the reactivity of the element is directly related to its oxidation and reduction potentials.

Complete answer:
As we know that according to electrochemical series a more reactive element placed at the top can easily displace a less reactive element placed at bottom from their salt solution. The electrochemical series follows the order: $Li > K > Ca > Na > Mg > Al > Mn > Zn > Cr > Fe > Co > Ni > Cu > I > Hg > Ag > Pt > Au > Br > Cl > F$. So, we can make out the fact that copper is placed higher and silver is placed very much lower in the electrochemical series and thus silver is less reactive than copper, so we can say that when silver is added to the copper sulphate solution so no reaction will take place.
$Ag + CuS{O_4} \to No\;reaction$

Additional information: On moving down the series value of oxidation potential decreases and among the known elements Lithium have the highest oxidation potential and Fluorine have the lowest oxidation potential. Hence Lithium behaves as the strongest reducing agent.
On moving down the series the value of reduction potential increases and among known elements Lithium has the lowest reduction potential and Fluorine has the highest reduction potential. Hence Fluorine behaves as the strongest oxidising agent.
Reactivity of metal is directly proportional to oxidation potential and non-metals reactivity is directly proportional to reduction potential and more reactive non-metal displaces less reactive non-metal from their salt solution.

Therefore the correct answer is option (D).

Note: On moving down the series, the elements or metal oxide which are placed below the copper in the electrochemical series becomes so unstable that on slight heating they can decompose into plane metal and oxygen. Thus, putting silver metal in copper sulphate solution results in no reaction as it becomes less stable in the copper solution.