Single replacement reactions, also known as single displacement reactions, are a type of chemical reaction in which an element displaces another element from a compound. These reactions occur between a single element and a compound, resulting in the formation of a new compound and a different element. The general form of a single replacement reaction can be represented as:
A + BC → AC + B
In this reaction, element A replaces element B in compound BC to form compound AC and element B.
Key Concepts
Reactivity Series: The reactivity series is a list of elements in order of their reactivity. This series helps predict whether a single replacement reaction will occur.
Activity Series: Similar to the reactivity series, the activity series is a list of metals in order of their reactivity with hydrogen and acids.
Predicting Products: Understanding the reactivity and activity series helps in predicting the products of single replacement reactions.
Examples of Single Replacement Reactions
Some common examples of single replacement reactions include the reaction of a metal with an acid, the reaction of a metal with water, and the reaction of a halogen with a metalsalt.
Study Guide
Here are some key points to focus on when studying single replacement reactions:
Understand the reactivity series and activity series and how they are used to predict single replacement reactions.
Earth/Space Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the chemical and physical interactions (i.e., natural forces and cycles, transfer of energy) of the environment, Earth, and the universe that occur over time.
Earth History: Explain how sedimentary rock is formed periodically, embedding plant and animal remains and leaving a record of the sequence in which the plants and animals appeared and disappeared.
Explain how sedimentary rock buried deep enough may be reformed by pressure and heat and these reformed rock layers may be forced up again to become land surface and even mountains.