---
title: "Strips of four different unknown metals, \\(W\\text{(s)}\\), \\(X\\text{(s)}\\), \\(Y\\text{(s)}\\), and \\(Z\\text{(s)}\\), were cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \\(1.0 \\text{ M}\\) aqueous nitrate solutions of each metal ion at \\(298 \\text{ K}\\). The observations are recorded in the table below.  | Metal strip | \\(W^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(X^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(Y^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | \\(Z^{2+}\\text{(aq)}\\) | | :— | :— | :— | :— | :— | | \\(W\\text{(s)}\\) | — | Reaction | Reaction | Reaction | | \\(X\\text{(s)}\\) | No reaction | — | No reaction | Reaction | | \\(Y\\text{(s)}\\) | No reaction | Reaction | — | Reaction | | \\(Z\\text{(s)}\\) | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction | — |  Based on the experimental data, which of the following correctly ranks the metal ions from weakest to strongest oxidizing agent and identifies the electrodes of a standard galvanic cell constructed from these half-cells that will produce the greatest positive cell potential, \\(E^\\circ_{\\text{cell}}\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123936/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T12:32:20+00:00"
---

# Strips of four different unknown metals, \(W\text{(s)}\), \(X\text{(s)}\), \(Y\text{(s)}\), and \(Z\text{(s)}\), were cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \(1.0 \text{ M}\) aqueous nitrate solutions of each metal ion at \(298 \text{ K}\). The observations are recorded in the table below.

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

Based on the experimental data, which of the following correctly ranks the metal ions from weakest to strongest oxidizing agent and identifies the electrodes of a standard galvanic cell constructed from these half-cells that will produce the greatest positive cell potential, \(E^\circ_{\text{cell}}\)?

Strips of four different unknown metals, \(W\text{(s)}\), \(X\text{(s)}\), \(Y\text{(s)}\), and \(Z\text{(s)}\), were cleaned and placed into separate test tubes containing \(1.0 \text{ M}\) aqueous nitrate solutions of each metal ion at \(298 \text{ K}\). The observations are recorded in the table below.

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

Based on the experimental data, which of the following correctly ranks the metal ions from weakest to strongest oxidizing agent and identifies the electrodes of a standard galvanic cell constructed from these half-cells that will produce the greatest positive cell potential, \(E^\circ_{\text{cell}}\)?

- **A.** Ranking: \(Z^{2+} < X^{2+} < Y^{2+} < W^{2+}\); Anode: \(W\text{(s)}\); Cathode: \(Z\text{(s)}\)
- **B.** Ranking: \(W^{2+} < X^{2+} < Y^{2+} < Z^{2+}\); Anode: \(W\text{(s)}\); Cathode: \(Z\text{(s)}\)
- **C.** Ranking: \(W^{2+} < Y^{2+} < X^{2+} < Z^{2+}\); Anode: \(W\text{(s)}\); Cathode: \(Z\text{(s)}\)
- **D.** Ranking: \(W^{2+} < Y^{2+} < X^{2+} < Z^{2+}\); Anode: \(Z\text{(s)}\); Cathode: \(W\text{(s)}\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/123936/*