Which statement correctly describes the reactivity of copper with sulfuric acid in the given data?

Which statement correctly describes the reactivity of copper with sulfuric acid in the given data?

• A. Copper dissolves to form copper sulfate and hydrogen gas
• B. Copper reacts to form copper sulfate and oxygen
• C. No reaction occurs
• D. Copper forms copper oxide and water

Answer: (C)

The key idea is how metals react with acids: a metal will displace hydrogen from an acid and produce a salt only if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen. Copper is less reactive than hydrogen, so it cannot push H+ from sulfuric acid to form hydrogen gas. That’s why, with dilute sulfuric acid, there’s no reaction and no hydrogen gas released. The data reflect this, showing copper remaining unchanged. (With very different conditions—hot, concentrated sulfuric acid—copper could react in a different way to give copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide, not hydrogen gas, which is a separate scenario.)

The key idea is how metals react with acids: a metal will displace hydrogen from an acid and produce a salt only if the metal is more reactive than hydrogen. Copper is less reactive than hydrogen, so it cannot push H+ from sulfuric acid to form hydrogen gas. That’s why, with dilute sulfuric acid, there’s no reaction and no hydrogen gas released. The data reflect this, showing copper remaining unchanged. (With very different conditions—hot, concentrated sulfuric acid—copper could react in a different way to give copper sulfate and sulfur dioxide, not hydrogen gas, which is a separate scenario.)