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  • Copper vs. Iron: Understanding Metal Reactivity & Corrosion
    Copper (Cu) is more active than iron (Fe).

    Activity Series:

    The activity series of metals is a list of metals arranged in order of their decreasing reactivity. Metals higher on the series are more reactive.

    In the activity series, copper is above iron, indicating that copper is more reactive than iron.

    Reactivity:

    * Copper is a less reactive metal and tends to resist corrosion. It forms a protective oxide layer on its surface that prevents further oxidation.

    * Iron is more reactive and readily corrodes in the presence of oxygen and water. It forms iron oxide (rust), which weakens the metal.

    Other Evidence:

    * Displacement Reactions: Copper can displace iron from its salts. For example, if a copper strip is placed in a solution of iron sulfate, copper will displace iron and form copper sulfate.

    * Electrochemical Series: The standard electrode potential of copper is more positive than that of iron, further indicating copper's higher reactivity.

    Conclusion:

    Based on the activity series, displacement reactions, and electrochemical series, it is evident that copper is more active than iron.

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