Download - Single Replacement Reactions
Single Replacement Reactions
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General Equation
A + BX AX + B
Helpful Hints
Metals replace metals and hydrogen
Halogens replace halogens
If an element can take more than one charge, use the +2 charge
Metals + H2O metalOH + H2
Steps to Predicting a single replacement reaction
1. Look at the reactants given and determine if the single element is a metal or a halogen
2. Look at the compound given in the reactants, and find the same type of element (metal or halogen) identified in step 1
3. Find both elements on the reactivity series
4. If the element identified in step 1 is higher on the reactivity series than the element in step 2, then they will switch places to form new products
5. Look at the products formed • If the single element is a diatomic molecule, it
needs a subscript of 2 • If your compound is not neutral; look at the
charges and add subscripts to make it neutral
Example 1:
Step 1: Zn is the single element, and it is a metal
Step 2: Ag is the metal in the compound
Step 3: Look at the activity series for metals (next slide)
Step 4: Zn is higher on the list (more reactive) so it will switch places with Ag (new products = Ag + ZnNO3
Step 5: Ag is not a diatomic molecule so it doesn’t need a subscript; ZnNO3 is not a neutral compound so we need to look at the charges and make it neutral; Zn2+ NO3
1-
Zn(NO3)2
Zn + AgNO3 ______________Ag + Zn(NO3)2
Activity SeriesMetalsLiRbKCsBaSrCaNaMgAlTiMnZnCrFeCdCoNiSnPbHSbBiCuHgAgPtAu
Most reactive
Least reactive
Cl2 + KI __________Example 2:
Step 1: Cl is the single element, and it is a halogen
Step 2: I is the halogen in the compound
Step 3: Look at the activity series for non-metals (next slide)
Step 4: Cl is higher on the list (more reactive) so it will switch places with I (new products = KCl + I
Step 5: I is a diatomic molecule so it needs a subscript of 2; KCl is a neutral compound because the charges are equal and opposite
KCl + I2
Activity SeriesNon-metalsF2
Cl2Br2
I2
Most reactive
Least reactive
Example 3:
Step 1: Ag is the single element, and it is a metal
Step 2: K is the metal in the compound
Step 3: Look at the activity series for metals (next slide)
Step 4: K is higher on the list (more reactive) so Ag will not switch places with K
Step 5: There will be NO REACTION (NR)
Ag + KNO 3 ______________NR
Activity SeriesMetalsLiRbKCsBaSrCaNaMgAlTiMnZnCrFeCdCoNiSnPbHSbBiCuHgAgPtAu
Most reactive
Least reactive