A small piece of silver was placed in a solution containing both magnesium nitrate and copper(II) nitrate.

Which one of the following will occur?

A No reaction occurs.

B The silver dissolves and only copper is precipitated.

C The silver dissolves and only magnesium is precipitated.

D A mixture of copper and magnesium forms on the silver.

I understand that it is not B or C but am unsure whether or not a reaction will occur as they all form cations.

Question

A small piece of silver was placed in a solution containing both magnesium nitrate and copper(II) nitrate.

Which one of the following will occur?

A No reaction occurs.

B The silver dissolves and only copper is precipitated.

C The silver dissolves and only magnesium is precipitated.

D A mixture of copper and magnesium forms on the silver.

I understand that it is not B or C but am unsure whether or not a reaction will occur as they all form cations.

chmvijay · Answer

see their electrochemical potential in the series  :) 
its displacment of one metal by another :)

anonymous · Answer

Does that mean its D

chmvijay · Answer

here silver is in metallic form and other two are in the ionic form :) do u know how electrochemical series :)

chmvijay · Answer

here silver is in metallic form and other two are in the ionic form :) do u know how electrochemical series works ?

anonymous · Answer

Yes so silver is above both magnesium and copper in the electrochemical series therefore a reaction will occur makeover the answer D? Correct?

anonymous · Answer

Silver is actaully one of the least reactive metal after platinum and gold , now u must be able to figure out the answer

anonymous · Answer

Ok so then it's A? Because no reaction can occur