Why doesn't the copper wire dissolve in the HCl the way that Al and Mg do? (Hint: use a table of relative redox potentials)
Copper is lower in the electrochemical series than Al & Mg Cu++ + 2e- = Cu E? = 0.34 volt Mg++ + 2e- = Mg = -2.36V Al+++ + 3e- =Al = -1.66 V H+ + e- + 1/2H2 = 0 V (by defn) i.e. electrode potential has to be less than hydrogen - i.e. negative
