Which element is NOT more reactive than copper?

Correct option is A

​The correct answer is (a) Ag

Explanation: Silver (Ag) is actually less reactive than copper (Cu) in terms of its ability to react with other substances, especially oxygen and acids. Here's a detailed explanation of why this is the case:

Reactivity of Metals:

The reactivity of metals is largely determined by how easily they can lose electrons. The more easily a metal loses electrons, the more reactive it is. This is why metals like sodium (Na) and potassium (K), which readily lose electrons, are highly reactive. On the other hand, metals like gold (Au) and silver (Ag) are relatively unreactive because they are less willing to lose electrons.

Silver vs. Copper:

• Silver (Ag): Silver is a noble metal. Noble metals are less reactive and do not easily form compounds with oxygen, water, or acids. Silver is resistant to corrosion and tarnishing, but it can form a tarnish when exposed to sulfur compounds in the air, forming silver sulfide (Ag₂S). However, this is a slow process, and silver does not react readily with acids (except for nitric acid, in which it dissolves to form silver nitrate).

• Copper (Cu): Copper is more reactive than silver but still considered a relatively moderately reactive metal. Copper reacts with oxygen in the air to form a greenish patina called copper carbonate (CuCO₃·Cu(OH)₂), which is the reason old copper surfaces, like roofs, turn green over time. Copper can also react with stronger acids, like sulfuric acid, to produce copper salts and hydrogen gas.

Why is Copper More Reactive Than Silver?

The reactivity of a metal is influenced by its position in the reactivity series of metals, a list of metals arranged by their ability to displace other metals from compounds. In this series:

• Silver is lower in the reactivity series.
• Copper is higher in the reactivity series compared to silver, which means copper is more likely to lose electrons and react with other substances.

Information Booster:

• Reactivity Series: The reactivity series is a guide to predict how metals will behave in reactions, especially with acids and water. The metals at the top, like potassium and sodium, are highly reactive, while those at the bottom, like gold, platinum, and silver, are much less reactive.

• Corrosion vs. Tarnishing: Both copper and silver undergo surface changes over time, but they do so in different ways. While copper forms a greenish patina due to copper carbonate, silver tarnishes and forms silver sulfide when exposed to sulfur-containing compounds in the air. Tarnishing is a slow process, making silver less reactive in comparison to copper.