Predict whether zinc and silver react with 1 M suphuric acid to give out hydrogen or not given that h standard potentials of zinc and silver are -0.76 vold and +0.80 volt respectively

Explanation

(a) To predict reaction of zinc with sulphuric acid: if it reacts, the following reaction should take place:
`Zn+H_(2)SO_(4) to ZnSO_(4)+H_(2)," i.e., "Zn+2H^(+)toZn^(2+)+H_(2)`
By convention, the cell will be represented as: `Zn|Zn^(2+)||H^(+)|H_(2)`.
Std. EMF of the cell `(E_(cell)^(@))=["Std. redn. pot. of R.H.S. electrode"]-["Std. redn. pot. of L.H.S. electrode"]=0-(-0.76)=+0.76` volt.
Thus, the EMF of the cell comes out to be positive. hence, the reaction takes place
(b) To predict the reaction of silver with sulphuric acid: if it reacts, the following reaction should take place:
`2Ag+H_(2)SO_(4)toAg_(2)SO_(4)+H_(2)," i.e., "2Ag+2H^(+)to2Ag^(+)+H_(2)`
By convention, the cell may be represented as : `Ag|Ag^(+)||H^(+)|H_(2)`
`E_(cell)^(@)=E_(H^(+),H_(2))^(@)-E_(Ag^(+),Ag)^(@)=0-0.80=0.80` volt.