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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
Answer the following: In common practice silver is recovered from silver nitrate solution by the use of copper metal. Name the type of reaction that takes place in this process and give the chemical equation of the reaction involved.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2025 31/2/1 Q21 (a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-14 10:31 · grounding rag
Model Answer

It is a displacement reaction. Copper, being more reactive than silver, displaces silver from silver nitrate solution:

$$\text{Cu(s)} + 2\text{AgNO}_3\text{(aq)} \rightarrow \text{Cu(NO}_3)_2\text{(aq)} + 2\text{Ag(s)}$$

Source: Chapter 3, Section 3.2.4

Explanation

Examiners expect both the name of the reaction type and the balanced equation. Since this is 1 mark, giving only one earns half credit. Note that copper displaces silver because Cu is higher in the reactivity series than Ag. Balance carefully: 2 AgNO₃ on the left, 2 Ag on the right.

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