Question
Sodium is regarded as an active metal, copper is inactive. Explain?
Solution
Only those metals are considered to be active which can liberate hydrogen gas from dilute HCl or H2SO4 and have the negative value of the standard reduction potentials. Such metals can lose electrons to H+ ion of an acid.
On the other hand, those metals are considered to be inactive which fail to liberate hydrogen from dilute acids and have a positive value of standard reduction potentials. Thus sodium [E° (NA+ | NA) = –2.714 V] is an active metal while copper [E° = +0 . 34V] is regarded as inactive metal.
On the other hand, those metals are considered to be inactive which fail to liberate hydrogen from dilute acids and have a positive value of standard reduction potentials. Thus sodium [E° (NA+ | NA) = –2.714 V] is an active metal while copper [E° = +0 . 34V] is regarded as inactive metal.
