---
title: "A student investigates the relative reactivity of four unknown metals, \\(\\text{W}\\), \\(\\text{X}\\), \\(\\text{Y}\\), and \\(\\text{Z}\\). Strips of each solid metal are cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \\(1.0 \\text{ M}\\) aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts of the other metal ions (\\(\\text{W}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\), \\(\\text{X}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\), \\(\\text{Y}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\), and \\(\\text{Z}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\)). The table below summarizes the student’s observations after \\(15 \\text{ min}\\).  | Solid metal | \\(\\text{W}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(\\text{X}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(\\text{Y}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(\\text{Z}^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | | :— | :— | :— | :— | :— | | \\(\\text{W(s)}\\) | — | No reaction | Reaction | No reaction | | \\(\\text{X(s)}\\) | Reaction | — | Reaction | Reaction | | \\(\\text{Y(s)}\\) | No reaction | No reaction | — | No reaction | | \\(\\text{Z(s)}\\) | Reaction | No reaction | Reaction | — |  Based on the observations, which of the following lists the four metals in order of decreasing strength as reducing agents?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123631/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T12:01:51+00:00"
---

# A student investigates the relative reactivity of four unknown metals, \(\text{W}\), \(\text{X}\), \(\text{Y}\), and \(\text{Z}\). Strips of each solid metal are cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \(1.0 \text{ M}\) aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts of the other metal ions (\(\text{W}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), \(\text{X}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), \(\text{Y}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), and \(\text{Z}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\)). The table below summarizes the student’s observations after \(15 \text{ min}\).

| Solid metal | \(\text{W}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{X}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{Y}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{Z}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) |
| :— | :— | :— | :— | :— |
| \(\text{W(s)}\) | — | No reaction | Reaction | No reaction |
| \(\text{X(s)}\) | Reaction | — | Reaction | Reaction |
| \(\text{Y(s)}\) | No reaction | No reaction | — | No reaction |
| \(\text{Z(s)}\) | Reaction | No reaction | Reaction | — |

Based on the observations, which of the following lists the four metals in order of decreasing strength as reducing agents?

A student investigates the relative reactivity of four unknown metals, \(\text{W}\), \(\text{X}\), \(\text{Y}\), and \(\text{Z}\). Strips of each solid metal are cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \(1.0 \text{ M}\) aqueous solutions of the nitrate salts of the other metal ions (\(\text{W}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), \(\text{X}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), \(\text{Y}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\), and \(\text{Z}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\)). The table below summarizes the student's observations after \(15 \text{ min}\).

| Solid metal | \(\text{W}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{X}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{Y}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) | \(\text{Z}^{2+}\text{(aq)}\) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| \(\text{W(s)}\) | — | No reaction | Reaction | No reaction |
| \(\text{X(s)}\) | Reaction | — | Reaction | Reaction |
| \(\text{Y(s)}\) | No reaction | No reaction | — | No reaction |
| \(\text{Z(s)}\) | Reaction | No reaction | Reaction | — |

Based on the observations, which of the following lists the four metals in order of decreasing strength as reducing agents?

- **A.** \(\text{Y} > \text{W} > \text{Z} > \text{X}\)
- **B.** \(\text{X} > \text{W} > \text{Z} > \text{Y}\)
- **C.** \(\text{X} > \text{Z} > \text{W} > \text{Y}\)
- **D.** \(\text{Y} > \text{Z} > \text{W} > \text{X}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123631/*