Change set

Pick exam & year, then Go.

Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q32 (NDA-I/2011) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Basic chemical principles Answer Verified

Iron nails are dipped into blue copper sulphate solution. After some time iron nails are :

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1. This phenomenon is explained by a displacement reaction based on the reactivity series of metals.

  • Chemical Reaction: Iron (Fe) is more reactive than Copper (Cu). When iron nails are placed in a blue copper sulphate (CuSO4) solution, iron atoms displace copper ions. The reaction is: Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu.
  • Dissolution of Iron: As iron atoms leave the nail to form ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) in the solution, the iron nail effectively dissolves or undergoes corrosion, often becoming thinner and covered with a reddish-brown copper deposit.
  • Colour Discharge: The characteristic blue colour of the solution is due to Cu2+ ions. As these ions are reduced to metallic copper, their concentration decreases, and the solution turns light green due to the formation of Fe2+ ions.

Options 2, 3, and 4 are incorrect because they fail to account for both the physical degradation of the nail and the chemical transformation of the solution's colour.

How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
50%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

4 Cross-Linked PYQs

UPSC repeats concepts across years. Login to see how this question connects to 4 others.

Login with Google