A piece of zinc is placed in three different solutions: lead nitrate, aluminium sulphate and silver nitrate. Which solution(s) will zinc be able to displace the metal from its solution?

Correct option is A

Correct Answer: (A) Lead nitrate and silver nitrate

Explanation:

In terms of displacement reactions, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its solution. Zinc is more reactive than both lead and silver, so it will displace them from their respective solutions.

Lead nitrate (Pb(NO₃)₂): Zinc will displace lead from its solution, since zinc is more reactive than lead.

Zn (s)+Pb(NO₃)₂ (aq)→Zn(NO₃)₂ (aq)+Pb (s)

Silver nitrate (AgNO₃): Zinc is more reactive than silver, so it can displace silver from its solution.

Zn (s)+2AgNO₃ (aq)→Zn(NO₃)₂ (aq)+2Ag (s)

Aluminium sulphate (Al₂(SO₄)₃): This one is tricky because zinc is less reactive than aluminium. Hence, zinc cannot displace aluminium from its solution.

Thus, zinc can displace lead from lead nitrate and silver from silver nitrate, but it cannot displace aluminium from aluminium sulphate.

Other Options:

•  Only silver nitrate: Incorrect. Zinc can also displace lead from lead nitrate, not just silver from silver nitrate.
• Aluminium sulphate and silver nitrate: Incorrect. Zinc cannot displace aluminium from aluminium sulphate.
• Lead nitrate and aluminium sulphate: Incorrect. Zinc cannot displace aluminium from aluminium sulphate.