Single Replacement Reaction

By: Ruth Anne O. Abalos

A single displacement reaction or substitution reaction is a common and important type of chemical reaction. A substitution or single displacement reaction is characterized by one element being displaced from a compound by another element. It is like:

A + BX AX + B
*The less reactive metal in a solution has been replaced by a more active metal, using the activity series. The Activity Series is as follows:
These metals are able to react with acid. Li K Be Sr Ca Na Mg Al Mn Zn Fe Cd Co Most metallic metals active metals + H2O metallic hydroxide + H2 (H) Cu Hg Ag Au

These metals do not react with acid.

Least metallic metals

Halogens- describe electronegativity F Cl less active metal + H2O metallic oxide + H2 Br I

Some other metals are not shown above, but you can look for the periodic trends. From left to right, it is increasing (the more active it is) but from top to bottom, it is decreasing (the less active it is) or:
Activity Series of Metals Metal Lithium Potassium Strontium Calcium Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Zinc Symbol Li K Sr Ca Na Mg Al Zn Reactivity displaces H2 gas from water, steam and acids and forms hydroxides

displaces H2 gas from steam and acids and forms hydroxides

Chromium Iron Cadmium Cobalt Nickel Tin Lead Hydrogen gas Antimony Arsenic Bismuth Copper Mercury Silver Paladium Platinum Gold

Cr Fe Cd Co Ni Sn Pb H2 Sb As Bi Cu Hg Ag Pd Pt Au displaces H2 gas from acids only and forms hydroxides

included for comparison combines with O2 to form oxides and cannot displace H2

found free in nature, oxides decompose with heating

There are just four (4) types of single-replacement also called single-displacement or substitution reaction. These are: a) metal + acid hydrogen gas + ionic compound (salt) Zn + HCl ZnCl2 + H2 (g) Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2 (g) What did you notice? First example. In the product side (right side of the equation), the hydrogen in HCl was replaced by zinc, because it is more active than the hydrogen gas. It is just the same in the second example; the hydrogen was replaced by magnesium for it is more active than the hydrogen gas. b) metal + H2O metallic hydroxide (for more active metals) or metallic oxide (for less active) + H2 Be + H2O Be(OH)2 + H2 (because it is an active metal, refer to the activity series table) Mg + H2O MgO + H2 (because it is a less active metal) c) metal + ionic compound metal + ionic compound Fe + CuSO4 Cu + FeSO4 (because Fe is more active than Cu) Al + 3FeSO4 3Fe + AlSO4 What if we reverse it? Cu + FeSO4 No Reaction (because Fe is more active than Cu, and in this case, when a more active metal should be replaced by a less active metal, go straight ahead, write no reaction.) d) halogen + halogen salt halogen + halogen salt Cl2 + 2NaBr Br2 + 2NaCl (because Cl is more active than Br)