Single Displacement and Redox
Single Displacement and Redox: At the conclusion of our time together, you should be able to: Identify a basic single displacement reaction Use the reactivity series table to determine if the reaction will take place Show the change in oxidation numbers for a single displacement reaction
3. Single Replacement Reactions Single Replacement Reactions occur when one element replaces another in a compound. A metal can replace a metal (+) OR a nonmetal can replace a halogen (-). element + compound element + compound A + BC AC + B (if A is a metal) OR A + BC BA + C (if A is a halogen) (remember the cation always goes first!)
3. Single Replacement Reactions For these reactions, you must remember: When H2O splits into ions, it splits into H+ and OH- (not H+ and O-2 !!) A single replacement reaction will only occur if the replacement ion has a higher activity than the original ion in the compound To determine this, refer to a relative activity table
Single Replacement Reactions (note: Li is higher relative activity than H):
A displacement reaction: metallic copper with silver nitrate Cu + Ag NO3 Note: Cu is higher relative activity Ag + Cu(NO3)2