According to the reactivity series, a metal higher, in the series, will displace a metal, lower in the series from the compound of the lower metal. Thus, Fe will displaces copper from copper sulphate solution. Then how is it possible that copper displaces iron (though partially) from ferric chloride?

I think there’s an old discussion of this here:

http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/15843-iron-iii-chloride-to-dissolve-copper/

I think there’s an old discussion of this here:

 

http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/15843-iron-iii-chloride-to-dissolve-copper/

Thanks a lot! That was petty useful in clearing my mind.

Do metals displace another according to reactivity?

 

I thought this was primarily a matter of solubility of the salts.

 

In addition, many metals have various oxidation states, so the reactivity "of a metal" is too vague.