kevinlimse
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inert metals with conc. acids
What are the reactions between conc acids and metal below hydrogen in the electrochemical series? e.g. HCl + Cu
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hodges
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Registered: 17-12-2003
Location: Midwest
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Well the electrode potentials of metals are not exact - the values are at a specific hydrogen concentration (pH) and temperature. So a noticable
reaction is possible in some instances even when the electrode potentials would not indicate it. However, in the case of Cu, that is so far below
hydrogen that no significant reaction will occur unless you use either an oxidizing acid (such as HNO3 or hot H2SO4), or add some other type of
oxidizer. I have dissolved a pre-1981 copper penny in HCl before by adding an oxidizer (common household hydrogen peroxide). But it took several
weeks to dissolve the penny.
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