Why Na & K are Not Acceptable for Reducing PbCl2

  • Thread starter Thread starter Faiq
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Reduction
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
Sign up Log in
3 replies · 3K views
Faiq
Messages
347
Reaction score
16

Homework Statement


A question asked to write an equation for the reduction of PbCl2

The answer key was
PbCl2+X ----> Pb+XCl2
where X can be: ...Fe, Mg...but not Na or K

Why are Na or K not acceptable?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Cost could be one reason. And which would you rather work with: sodium / potassium vs. iron / magnesium?
 
Ygggdrasil said:
Based on the activity series, all of those metals should be able to displace Pb2+ in a single displacement reaction. Maybe it just has to do with the fact that FeCl2 and MgCl2 are valid formula but NaCl2 and KCl2 are not (rather the equation would be PbCl2 + 2Na --> Pb + 2NaCl).

The question doesn't make any such type of recommendation though