---
title: "A strip of solid zinc, \\(\\text{Zn}(s)\\), is immersed in an aqueous solution of copper(II) sulfate, \\(\\text{CuSO}_4(aq)\\). A single-displacement oxidation-reduction reaction occurs at the surface of the metal according to the following net ionic equation:  \\[ \\text{Zn}(s) + \\text{Cu}^{2+}(aq) \\rightarrow \\text{Zn}^{2+}(aq) + \\text{Cu}(s) \\]  The diagram below represents a microscopic cross section of the interface between the metal strip and the solution during the reaction.  Which of the following statements correctly identifies the species being oxidized and provides the correct particulate-level justification supported by the diagram?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123679/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T12:01:57+00:00"
---

# A strip of solid zinc, \(\text{Zn}(s)\), is immersed in an aqueous solution of copper(II) sulfate, \(\text{CuSO}_4(aq)\). A single-displacement oxidation-reduction reaction occurs at the surface of the metal according to the following net ionic equation:

\[ \text{Zn}(s) + \text{Cu}^{2+}(aq) \rightarrow \text{Zn}^{2+}(aq) + \text{Cu}(s) \]

The diagram below represents a microscopic cross section of the interface between the metal strip and the solution during the reaction.

Which of the following statements correctly identifies the species being oxidized and provides the correct particulate-level justification supported by the diagram?

A strip of solid zinc, \(\text{Zn}(s)\), is immersed in an aqueous solution of copper(II) sulfate, \(\text{CuSO}_4(aq)\). A single-displacement oxidation-reduction reaction occurs at the surface of the metal according to the following net ionic equation:

\[ \text{Zn}(s) + \text{Cu}^{2+}(aq) \rightarrow \text{Zn}^{2+}(aq) + \text{Cu}(s) \]

The diagram below represents a microscopic cross section of the interface between the metal strip and the solution during the reaction.

Which of the following statements correctly identifies the species being oxidized and provides the correct particulate-level justification supported by the diagram?

![A grayscale particulate diagram showing a solid-liquid interface in a rectangular frame. A legend at the top defines five symbols: large open circle = \(\text{Zn}(s)\), large solid black circle = \(\text{Cu}(s)\), small open circle with internal label \(2+\) = \(\text{Zn}^{2+}(aq)\), small solid black circle with internal label \(2+\) = \(\text{Cu}^{2+}(aq)\), and open square with internal label \(2-\) = \(\text{SO}_4^{2-}(aq)\). The lower half of the frame represents the solid metal strip consisting of a two-row lattice of 12 closely packed large circles: the bottom row contains 6 large open circles, and the top surface row contains 4 large open circles and 2 large solid black circles. The upper half represents the aqueous solution containing exactly 2 small open circles with label \(2+\), exactly 4 small solid black circles with label \(2+\), and exactly 6 open squares with label \(2-\), all evenly dispersed. No other particles, labels, text, or annotations appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790596917-7NqXF7.jpg)

- **A.** \(\text{Cu}^{2+}(aq)\) is oxidized because each \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\) ion gains two electrons and deposits onto the solid lattice as a neutral \(\text{Cu}\) atom.
- **B.** \(\text{Cu}^{2+}(aq)\) is oxidized because the number of aqueous \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\) ions decreases as they transfer electrons directly to dissolved \(\text{SO}_4^{2-}\) spectator ions.
- **C.** \(\text{Zn}(s)\) is oxidized because each neutral \(\text{Zn}\) atom gains two electrons from a \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\) ion to form a \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\) ion that dissolves into the solution.
- **D.** \(\text{Zn}(s)\) is oxidized because each neutral \(\text{Zn}\) atom loses two electrons to a \(\text{Cu}^{2+}\) ion and enters the solution as a \(\text{Zn}^{2+}\) ion.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123679/*