Tuesday, July 17, 2018

electrochemistry - Why do electrons follow from Zn to Cu but not Cu to Zn in the lemon battery experiment?


In the lemon battery experiment, as I understand, both $\ce{Zn}$ and $\ce{Cu}$ meet acid in the lemon, cause $\ce{Zn}$ and $\ce{Cu}$ release electrons to form $\ce{Zn^{2+}}$ and $\ce{Cu^{2+}}$.



So why do the electrons follow from $\ce{Zn}$ to $\ce{Cu}$ but not from $\ce{Cu}$ to $\ce{Zn}$?




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periodic trends - Comparing radii in lithium, beryllium, magnesium, aluminium and sodium ions

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