By: Brittany Yobb and Tori Permar

What is a Single Replacement Reaction?

A. A single compound that is broken down into 2 or more products.

B. When your boyfriend/ girlfriend replaces you with someone else.

C. When atoms of an element replace the atoms of a second element in a compound.

D. An individual atom replacing 5 atoms.

What you need to know

• When a single replacement takes place an element is released and a compound is formed. The element being released was replaced by the more reactive metal in the equation.

• Single replacement reactions take place when elements are placed in an aqueous solution of any compound. That is why in all single replacement reaction problems you see an “(aq)” subscript. SO remember to place an “(aq)” at the end of the reaction.

Activity Series of Metals Chart

This is a list of metals in order of decreasing reactivity. Typically in a single replacement reaction a more active metal will replace a less active metal. So Lithium can replace any of the other metals listed in the chart because it is the most active, thus its placement on the top of the chart.

You will use this when solving a single replacement reaction, when you need to know which metal is going to be replaced.

Lets try one step by step…

The problem: Mg(s) Zn

C

o

oo

First, you need to see if magnesium is more reactive than Zinc (the second metal). BE SURE TO USE YOUR CHART TO DO SO!

Now that you know magnesium is more reactive than zinc, then magnesium can replace zinc during the single replacement reaction.

To be clear, the reaction that will take place is, magnesium switching places with zinc so first the problem above looks like this: Mg(s)+Zn(NO3)2 and after…

The Answer

• After the reaction it will look like this: Zn(s)+Mg(NO3)2(aq)

Zn(s) Mg C

o

o o

The picture of the final reaction

Do Reactions Always Happen ?

NO!In some Single reaction Problems, a reaction may not be able to occur. This happens when one metal that is going to replace another metal is less reactive. Lets take a look!

Mg(s) + LiNO3(aq)

1st: we need to see if Mg is

more reactive than Li

Since Mg is less reactive than Li there

is no reaction!

NO REACTION !!!!!

Non Metal Activity

• It is also possible for a reaction to take place between two Non metals. All you have to do is look at your periodic table like you are looking at your Activity series of metals chart. So the higher up the element, the more reactive.

Cl is Higher Than

bromine

So Cl isMoreActive

Than Br

Your Turn

Sodium Bromide + Iodine ?

There is no reaction, so your answer would look like this.

Sodium Bromide + Iodine N.R.

( USE YOUR CHART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Some Fun Facts

As you may already know, the statue of Liberty is made of copper. What you may not know, the inner supports are made of iron. When the outer copper layer began to react with the air, it formed a verdigris coating ( the green coating on the outer layer of the statue). A single replacement reaction occurred causing all of the iron on the inside to rust. Then, in the 1980’s all of the inner supports had to be replaced.

Homework

Give the products:1.) Ca + 2HCl2.) Ag + H2SO4

3.) 2NaI + Br2