Metal Reactivity and Displacement Reactions

Steps:

• Consult the reactivity series: silver is below copper, making silver less reactive.
• In aqueous copper(II) sulfate, Cu²⁺ ions are present; a more reactive metal would displace copper, but silver cannot.
• Compare standard electrode potentials: Ag⁺/Ag (+0.80 V) > Cu²⁺/Cu (+0.34 V), so the reaction Ag + Cu²⁺ → Ag⁺ + Cu is not spontaneous.
• Therefore, no displacement or other visible change occurs.

Why B is correct:

• The reactivity series shows silver is less reactive than copper, preventing displacement per the electrochemical series law.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: No gas evolution, as this is not an acid-base or redox gas-producing reaction.
• C: Copper deposition requires a more reactive metal like zinc, not silver.
• D: Silver does not dissolve, lacking sufficient reducing power against Cu²⁺.

Final answer: B