Explanation
In an electrochemical series, all metals above hydrogen in the acitivity series will displace hydrogen form an acid .
Here, Ca, Al and Zn are placed above hydrogen hence these metals can displace hydrogen , whereas , Hg placed below the hydrogen. So, it does not displace hydrogen from an acid.
In the Daniel cell, copper and zinc electrodes are immersed in a solution of copper(II) sulfate and zinc sulfate respectively. At the anode, zinc is oxidized per the following half reaction. The two half-cell form of the Daniel cell for classroom demonstrations
Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2e− . . (Standard electrode potential -0.7618 V)
At the cathode, copper is reduced per the following reaction:
Cu2+(aq) + 2e− → Cu(s) . . (Standard electrode potential +0.340 V)
The total reaction being:
Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s). (Open-circuit voltage 1.1018 V)
Mg and Al have lower reduction potentials than H2O.Hence H2O is reduced more easily to give H2 gas at the cathode.
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