Final answer:
The reaction between zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and copper (Cu) does not occur because copper is less reactive than zinc and cannot displace it from its compound, meaning the expected product is no reaction.
The correct answer is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expected product of the reaction between zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and copper (Cu) is Cu and ZnCl₂. No reaction occurs when ZnCl₂ and Cu are mixed because copper is less reactive than zinc and cannot displace zinc from its compound. According to the reactivity series, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its compound. Since zinc is more reactive than copper, zinc can displace copper in a reaction with copper(II) ions, but the reverse is not true.
This can be illustrated further with an example: when metallic zinc (Zn) is introduced to a solution containing copper(II) ions, like copper(II) sulfate (CuSO₄), a spontaneous redox reaction takes place where zinc gets oxidized to Zn²+ ions and copper(II) ions are reduced to metallic copper (Cu).
Zinc's ability to oxidize and form Zn²+ ions while causing the reduction of Cu²+ ions to metallic copper demonstrates why, in the original question, there would be no reaction between zinc chloride and copper. Hence, the expected product is simply No reaction occurs between ZnCl₂ and Cu.