Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate

Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu

Overview

Iron metal replaces copper in copper sulfate solution because iron is higher in the reactivity series than copper. An iron nail placed in blue copper sulfate solution gradually turns coppery brown as metallic copper deposits on it, while the solution loses its blue color.

Participants

Role	Substance	Coefficient	State
Reactant	Iron Fe	1	(s)
Reactant	Copper(II) Sulfate CuSO₄	1	(aq)
Product	Copper Cu	1	(s)

Everyday Example

Placing an iron nail in copper sulfate solution is one of the most classic experiments taught in middle school science classes.

Industrial Importance

Iron cementation is used commercially to recover copper from leach solutions in hydrometallurgical copper processing plants.

Properties

Type: Single Replacement
Reversible: No
Energy: Exothermic
ΔH: -152.3 kJ/mol

Related Reactions

Aluminum Reacting with Hydrochloric Acid Aluminum Reacting with Iron(III) Oxide (Thermite) Aluminum Reducing Chromium Oxide (Aluminothermic) Calcium Reacting with Water Carbon Reducing Iron Oxide in Blast Furnace Chlorine Displacing Bromine from Sodium Bromide Chlorine Displacing Iodine from Potassium Iodide Copper Displacing Silver from Silver Nitrate Fluorine Displacing Chlorine from Sodium Chloride Hydrogen Reducing Copper Oxide

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the equation for Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate?

The balanced equation is: Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu.

What type of reaction is Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate?

Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate is a single replacement reaction.

Is Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate exothermic or endothermic?

Iron Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -152.3 kJ/mol.