======Copper Plating Iron======


<WRAP right box>
**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
\\
**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
\\


**Alternative titles:** Single Displacement Redox Reaction
</WRAP>

====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  - Fill a small beaker with copper sulfate solution.  
  - Place a clean iron nail into the solution.  
  - Leave the nail in the solution for several minutes.  
  - Observe the reddish-brown copper coating forming on the nail (it probably won't be smooth, but copper will form).  
  - Note the gradual fading of the blue color in the solution as Cu²⁺ ions are replaced by Fe²⁺ ions.



====Links==== 
Redox Single Displacement Reaction of Copper 2 Sulfate & Iron in RamZland - RamZland: 
{{youtube>mN31mt_OL4U?}}\\

📄 Copper Plating (Single displacement with iron/CuSO₄) - Dnnovate Ltd.: [[https://www.medhavatika.com/copper-plating-single-displacement-with-iron-cuso%E2%82%84/]]\\


====Variations====
  * Use steel wool or different forms of iron instead of an iron nail.  
  * Compare the displacement reactions of different metals (e.g., zinc or magnesium in copper sulfate solution).  
  * Measure the mass of the iron nail before and after to quantify copper deposition.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Avoid contact of copper sulfate with eyes and wash hands after the experiment.  
  * Dispose of the copper sulfate solution according to local regulations; do not pour down the drain.





====Questions to Consider====
  * Why does copper coat the iron nail? (Iron is more reactive than copper and displaces it from solution.)  
  * What evidence shows a chemical reaction has taken place? (Deposition of copper, fading of blue solution, formation of Fe²⁺ ions.)  
  * How is this reaction an example of redox? (Iron undergoes oxidation to Fe²⁺, while Cu²⁺ undergoes reduction to copper metal.)  
  * What role does the reactivity series play in predicting whether displacement will occur? (A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive one from its compound.)