what happens when a lead acetate is with zinc?

Question

here is the procedure:

put a pice of zinc metal into a test tube. cover metal with a solution of lead acetate for evidence of reaction..

what would be the result?

write and balance the equation..

what element was oxidized?

what element was reduced?

thank you...

Answer 1

Zinc, being a more reactive metal than Lead, will displace the Lead ions out of solution....forming a precipitate of Lead metal and a solution of Zinc Acetate.

Activity Series:
http://www.clickandlearn.org/chemistry/activity_series.htm
Zinc is above Lead on the activity series and will therefore displace it from solution.

Net ionic reaction (I omit the acetate ion since it remains in solution),
Pb+2 (aq) + Zn (s) --> Pb (s) + Zn+2 (aq)

Remember LEO GER,
Loose Electrons -> Oxidation,
Gain Electrons -> Reduction
The Lead ion gains two electrons to go from the Pb+2 ion to Pb metal...therefore Lead is Reduced.
The Zinc metal looses two electrons to become the Zn+2 ion, therefore the Zinc metal is Oxidized.