Redox Terminology question

Question

You add sulfuric acid into CuO, turning the solution into a blue color.

In the next step, you add Zn(s) to the blue solution.

1. What is the purpose of adding Zn(s) in this step? Explain by using redox terminology. 
2. What are the ions in solution after adding Zn(s) to the solution?

Answer 1

First reaction of sulfuric acid and CuO is ... H2SO4 + CuO ==> CuSO4 + H2O

Second reaction is as follows: CuSO4 + Zn(s) ==> ZnSO4 + Cu(s)

The purpose of adding Zn is to produce a redox reaction where Zn is oxidized to Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ is reduced to Cu(s).

The ions remaining in solution after the addition of Zn(s) would be Zn²⁺, SO₄^2-, H⁺ and OH^-.