ZnSO4 + Cu → Zn + CuSO4
In this reaction, zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) and copper (Cu) undergo a single-displacement reaction. During this reaction, the more reactive metal, which is zinc (Zn), displaces the less reactive metal, which is copper (Cu), from its salt solution. As a result, metallic zinc (Zn) is formed and copper sulfate (CuSO4) is produced.
The reaction can be understood in terms of the reactivity of the metals involved. Zinc is more reactive than copper, meaning that it has a greater tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions. When a piece of copper metal is placed in a solution of zinc sulfate, the zinc ions (Zn²⁺) in the solution are more strongly attracted to the electrons in the copper metal than the copper ions (Cu²⁺) are to the electrons in the zinc metal. This difference in attraction causes the zinc ions to be reduced to zinc metal (Zn), while the copper ions are oxidized to copper sulfate (CuSO4).
The overall reaction is represented by the following equation:
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
In summary, when ZnSO4 and Cu react, zinc displaces copper from its salt solution, resulting in the formation of metallic zinc and copper sulfate.
