Section 4.4: Single Displacement Reactions
Tutorial 1 Practice, page 166–167
1. (a) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and identify the element and the
compound.
Mg(s)
AgNO3(aq)
element compound
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which metal is higher on the activity series.
The metal Mg is higher than the metal in the compound, Ag. Therefore, a displacement reaction
will occur.
Step 3. Determine the chemical formula of the new compound AC.
Mg2+
NO3−
element compound
Mg(NO3)2
Step 4. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
The balanced chemical equation is:
Mg(s) + 2 AgNO3(aq) → Mg(NO3)2(aq) + 2 Ag(s)
(b) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and identify the element and the
compound.
Zn(s)
FeCl2(aq)
element compound
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which metal is higher on the activity series.
The metal Zn is higher than the metal in the compound, Fe. Therefore, a displacement reaction
will occur.
Step 3. Determine the chemical formula of the new compound AC.
Zn2+
Cl−
element compound
ZnCl2
Step 4. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
The balanced chemical equation is:
Zn(s) + FeCl2(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + Fe(s)
(c) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and identify the element and the
compound.
Ni(s)
Al(NO3)3(aq)
element compound
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which metal is higher on the activity series.
The metal in the compound, Al, is higher than the metal element, Ni. Therefore, no reaction
occurs.
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Chapter 4: The Effects of Chemical Reactions
4.4-1
2. (a) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and the atoms and ions involved in the
reaction.
Ca(s)
HBr(aq)
Ca
H+ Br−
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which is higher on the activity series, the metal element or hydrogen.
Ca is higher than H. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Step 3. Determine the chemical formula of the new compound AC. The remaining element is
displaced.
Ca2+
Br−
CaBr2
Step 4. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
The balanced chemical equation is:
Ca(s) + 2 HBr(aq) → CaBr2(aq) + H2(g)
(b) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and the atoms and ions involved in the
reaction.
Cu(s)
H2O(l)
Cu
H+ OH−
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which is higher on the activity series, the metal element or hydrogen.
H is higher than Cu. Therefore, no reaction occurs.
(c) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and the atoms and ions involved in the
reaction.
Ba(s)
H2O(l)
Ba
H+ OH−
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which is higher on the activity series, the metal element or hydrogen.
Ba is higher than H. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Step 3. Determine the chemical formula of the new compound AC. The remaining element is
displaced.
Ba2+
OH−
Ba(OH)2
Step 4. Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
The balanced chemical equation is:
Ba(s) + 2 H2O(l) → Ba(OH)2(aq) + 2 H2(g)
(d) Step 1. Write the chemical formulas of the reactants and the atoms and ions involved in the
reaction.
Hg(l)
H2SO4(aq)
Hg
2 H+ SO42–
A
+ BC → AC + B
Step 2. Identify which is higher on the activity series, the metal element or hydrogen.
H is higher than Hg. Therefore, no reaction occurs.
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Chapter 4: The Effects of Chemical Reactions
4.4-2
Mini Investigation: Ironing Out Rust, page 168
A. Some of the product of the reaction moved when the magnet was brought nearby, indicating
the presence of pure iron.
B. Carbon should be higher than iron in the activity series because it displaced iron out of the
compound.
Section 4.4 Questions, page 169
1. The reactants of synthesis reactions can be either elements or compounds. The reactants of
single displacement reactions are one element and one compound.
2. (a) Al is higher than Ag on the activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Al(s) + 3 AgNO3(aq) → Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3 Ag(s)
(b) Zn is higher than Pb on the activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Zn(s) + Pb(NO3)2(aq) → Zn(NO3)2(aq) + Pb(s)
(c) H is higher than Au on the activity series. Therefore, no reaction occurs.
Au(s) + H2O(l) → no reaction
(d) Mg is higher than H on the activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Mg(s) + H2SO4(aq) → MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)
(e) Ca is higher than H on the activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Ca(s) + 2 H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
(f) Al is higher than H on the activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
2 Al(s) + 6 HCl(aq) → 2 AlCl3(aq) + 3 H2(g)
3. (a) Br is above I in the halogen activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
Br2(l) + 2 NaI(aq) → 2 NaBr(aq) + I2(aq)
(b) Cl is below F in the halogen activity series. Therefore, no reaction occurs.
Cl2(g) + KF(aq) → no reaction
(c) F is above Br in the halogen activity series. Therefore, a displacement reaction will occur.
F2(g) + CaBr2(aq) → CaF2(aq) + Br2(aq)
4. In order from slowest to fastest: (d), (a), (b), (c)
Reaction (d) does not occur at all since silver is higher than gold on the activity series. The
remaining reactions occur because the metal elements are higher than silver on the activity
series. The rate of the reaction is based on how far above silver the metal is located on the
activity series. Potassium in (c) reacts most readily because it is the highest above silver.
5. Skin is naturally acidic. Metals higher than hydrogen on the activity series can react with this
acidity and corrode, leaving stains on skin. Jewellery made with metals lower than hydrogen on
the activity series, such as silver and gold, will not react.
6. (a) 2 Mg(s) + CO2(s) → 2 MgO(s) + C(s)
(b) The use of carbon dioxide will only make the flame worse since it readily reacts with
magnesium. Smothering the flame with sand is a better way to extinguish the flame.
7. Since lead is higher than hydrogen on the activity series, lead can react with water,
contaminating drinking water with lead ions. Copper, however, is a better choice because it is
lower than hydrogen on the activity series. This means that copper does not react with water.
8. Metal A is the lowest metal on the activity series since it did not react with water at any
temperatures. Metal C is the higher than metal A on the activity series since it reacted with water
when the temperature was raised. Metal B reacted with water at all temperatures. It is the most
active and therefore should be the highest on the activity series.
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Chapter 4: The Effects of Chemical Reactions
4.4-3
9. (a) Metal C is lower than hydrogen on the activity series since it does not react with the acid.
Metal B is higher than hydrogen on the activity series since it does react with the acid. Metal A is
far higher than hydrogen on the activity series since it reacts most vigorously with the acid.
(b) Metal A is the highest on the activity series since it reacts most vigorously.
(c) A would be magnesium, B would be zinc, and C would be copper.
10. Answers may vary. Sample answer: The Goldschmidt process involves reacting a metal
oxide with a powdered metal that is higher on the activity series than the metal in the oxide.
For example, this reaction using aluminum can be used to displace iron from iron(III) oxide:
2 Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) → Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(s)
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Chapter 4: The Effects of Chemical Reactions
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