Question:
A solution of CuSO4 was kept in an iron pot. After few days, the iron pot was found to have a number of holes in it. Explain the reason in terms of
reactivity. Write the equation of the reaction involved.
Solution:
Iron (Fe) is placed above copper (Cu) in the reactivity series. This means that a chemical reaction had occurred between iron (iron pot) and aqueous
CuSO4 solution.
$\mathrm{Fe}(s)+\mathrm{CuSO}_{4}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{FeSO}_{4}(a q)+\mathrm{Cu}(s)$
Since iron was consumed in the reaction, a number of holes appeared in the pot.