You must have seen tarnished copper vessels being cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice. Explain why these sour substances are effective in cleaning the vessels.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store

Copper reacts with moist carbon dioxide in air to form copper carbonate and as a result, copper vessel loses its shiny brown surface forming a green layer of copper carbonate. The citric acid present in the lemon or tamarind neutralises the basis copper carbonate and dissolves the layer. That is why, tarnished copper vessels are cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice to give the surface of the copper vessel its characteristic lustre.

Similar Questions

Write equations for the reactions of

$(i)$ iron with steam

$(ii)$ calcium and potassium with water

An element reacts with oxygen to give a compound with a high melting point. This compound is also soluble in water. The element is likely to be

Pratyush took sulphur powder on a spatula and heated it. He collected the gas evolved by inverting a test tube over it, as shown in figure below.

$(a)$ What will be the action of gas on

$(i)$ dry litmus paper ?

$(ii)$ moist litmus paper ?

$(b)$ Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place.

$(i)$ Write the electron-dot structures for sodium. oxygen and magnesium.

$(ii)$ Show the formation of $Na _{2} O$ and $MgO$ by the transfer of electrons.

$(iii)$ What are the ions present in these compounds ?

Give reasons : Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery.