Practice question · Put in order
Arrange these metals in order of increasing tendency to be oxidised, given their standard reduction potentials: gold V, copper V, iron V, zinc V.
- Zinc
- Iron
- Copper
- Gold
Hints
- A more negative reduction potential means the metal gives up electrons more readily.
- Order the metals from most positive reduction potential to most negative.
Show the answer
- Gold
- Copper
- Iron
- Zinc
Why
The more negative the reduction potential, the more readily the metal is oxidised. Gold, at V, resists oxidation almost entirely, while zinc at V corrodes readily, which is exactly why zinc is used to protect steel.
Practise Electrochemistry
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