Single Displacement Chemistry Example 1

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Example 1

easy
Write the balanced equation for zinc metal reacting with hydrochloric acid.

Solution

  1. 1
    Single displacement: a more reactive element replaces a less reactive one: A+BC→AC+B\text{A} + \text{BC} \rightarrow \text{AC} + \text{B}.
  2. 2
    Zinc displaces hydrogen: Zn+HCl→ZnCl2+H2\text{Zn} + \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{ZnCl}_2 + \text{H}_2 (unbalanced).
  3. 3
    Balanced: Zn+2HCl→ZnCl2+H2\text{Zn} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{ZnCl}_2 + \text{H}_2. Check: Zn 1=1, H 2=2, Cl 2=2. ✓

Answer

Zn+2HCl→ZnCl2+H2\text{Zn} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{ZnCl}_2 + \text{H}_2
In single displacement reactions, the activity series predicts whether the reaction will occur. Zinc is above hydrogen in the series, so it can displace hydrogen from the acid.

About Single Displacement

A chemical reaction in which a free (uncombined) element that is more reactive displaces and replaces a less reactive element within a compound, producing a.

Learn more about Single Displacement →

More Single Displacement Examples

Example 2 medium

Will copper react with silver nitrate solution? If so, write the balanced equation. (Activity series

Example 3 easy

Will gold (Au) react with [formula] solution? (Au is below Cu in the activity series.)

Example 4 hard

Zinc metal is placed in a copper(II) sulfate solution ([formula]). The solution gradually loses its

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