In All Single Displacement Reactions, One Element of a Compound Is Displaced by Another Element

Name: ______Date: ______

Single Displacement Reactions

LEARNING GOAL: Today I am learning how to predict the products and write balanced chemical equations for single displacement reactions.

In all single displacement reactions, one element of a compound is displaced by another element

Single Displacement Reactions and the

Metal Activity Series

Ø  General reaction equation: A + BC AC + B

Ø  involves a metal cation being replaced by another metal

Ø  A displaces B, only if A is more reactive than B (see metal activity series)

Guidelines to follow:

Ø  treat hydrogen as a metal

Ø  treat acids as ionic compounds (ex. HCl as H+Cl-)

Ø  treat water as ionic, with the formula H+(OH-)

The Metal Activity Series

Ø  One metal is more reactive than another if it is higher than that metal on the activity series

Ø  In other words: A reactive metal will displace any metal that is below it in the activity series

Ø  Thus a reaction will not always occur

Ø  If you predict no reaction, write “NR” on the right side of the arrow

Ex. 1) Predict the products for each of the following reactions. Balance the resulting equation.

a)  NaI + K

b)  Co + NaI

c)  Zn + H2SO4

d)  Li + H2O

Single Displacement Reactions

Involving Halogens

Ø  General reaction equation: X + AY Y + AX

Ø  involves an anion being replaced by a non-metal

Ø  X displaces Y, only if X is more reactive than Y (see halogen activity series)

Ø  The activity series for halogens is:

F > Cl > Br > I

Ø  F is the most reactive and I is the least reactive

Ø  Halogens will replace halogens below them in group 17 of the periodic table

Ø  Remember: Halogens are diatomic elements

Ex. 2) Predict the products for each of the following reactions. Balance the resulting equation.

a) Cl2 + KBr

b) I2 + CaBr2

Single Displacement Practice

For each of the following, determine if a reaction occurs. If it does, determine the products and write a balanced chemical equation.

a)  Na + Pb(NO3)2

b)  Cu + ZnCl2

c)  Ba + H2O

d)  Mg + H2O

e)  Al + H2SO4

f)  F2 + NaCl

g)  NiBr2 + Al

h)  NiBr2 + Cu

i)  SnCl4 + Fe

j)  Al + HCl

k)  Au + HCl

l)  Zn(NO2)2 + Na

m) Pb(NO3)4 + Fe

n)  CuSO4 + Al

o)  Ag2CO3 + Cu

p)  AgCl + Pt

Metal Activity Series

Metal / Symbol
Lithium / Li
Potassium / K
Barium / Ba
Calcium / Ca
Sodium / Na
Magnesium / Mg
Aluminum / Al
Zinc / Zn
Iron / Fe
Cobalt / Co
Nickel / Ni
Tin / Sn
Lead / Pb
Hydrogen / H
Copper / Cu
Mercury / Hg
Silver / Ag
Platinum / Pt
Gold / Au

Note: Metals from Li to Na will displace H from acids and water

Metals from Mg to Pb will displace H only from acids