Question
Last Answered 26/3/24 Copper ore (MALACHITE) can be turned into pure copper in a reaction with __ more COPPER a MORE REACTIVE element a LESS REACTIVE element carbon dioxide
Answer
3.7
(169 Votes)
Zephyr
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
a MORE REACTIVE element.
Explanation
The question wants to identify the correct substance with which Malachite (a form of copper ore) reacts to yield pure copper. The first thing to realize is that this is a displacement reaction where copper needs to be purified, meaning the other element or compound must be more reactive so it can displace copper from Malachite and cause it to exist as pure copper."More copper" is not the correct answer, because addition of more copper wouldn't initiate a displacement reaction. The displacement reaction needs an element or compound that is more reactive than copper."Carbon dioxide" also cannot be the correct answer even though it contains oxygen. Carbon dioxide is overall a stable compound and will not generally displace a metal from its ore.So, it comes to the option between a more reactive element and a less reactive element. A less reactive element will not be able to displace copper. On the contrary, a more reactive element would be able to "knock out" or "displace" copper from its ore.Therefore, to convert copper ore into pure copper, it must be able to destabilize the current formation of the copper ore, which requires the reaction with a more reactive element.