Question

Explain the process for identifying a single replacement reaction and determining if the reaction would proceed.

Answer 1

A single replacement reaction involves an element reacting with a compound to replace one of its elements. Use the periodic table or an activity series to determine if a reaction will occur, with more reactive elements displacing less reactive ones. If the free element is less reactive, marked as NR, no reaction occurs.

Step-by-step explanation:

A single replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction where an element reacts with a compound and replaces one of the elements in the compound. To identify and predict whether a single replacement reaction will occur, one can use the periodic table or an activity series. The activity series is a list of elements organized by their reactivity from highest to lowest.

To determine if the reaction would proceed, compare the reactivity of the free element with the element it is trying to replace in the compound. If the free element is more reactive than the bonded element, the reaction is likely to occur. For example, in the reaction MgCl2 + I2, magnesium (Mg) is more reactive than iodine (I2), so Mg will replace I2 to form MgI2 and free chlorine (Cl2). The balanced equation would be MgCl2 + 2I2 → MgI2 + Cl2.

However, if the free element is less reactive than the element in the compound, the reaction will not take place. This can be indicated by writing NR, which stands for 'No Reaction'. Using an activity series or solubility rules helps to make these predictions more accurate and teach us about the behavior of elements during chemical reactions.

Answer 2

To identify a single-replacement reaction and determine if it will occur, use the activity series to compare the reactivity of the elements involved. A reaction proceeds if a more reactive element displaces a less reactive one in a compound. If the free element is less reactive, the reaction is noted as 'NR' for no reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

A single-replacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which one element replaces another in a compound. To predict if a single-replacement reaction will occur, you can use the activity series, which is a list of elements ordered by their ability to displace other elements. The more reactive element will replace a less reactive element in a compound.

If the element that is free (not in a compound) is more reactive than the element it seeks to replace in the compound, the reaction will likely proceed. If it is not, the reaction will be labeled as 'NR' for no reaction. When the reaction does proceed, it's important to write the products of the reaction and balance the chemical equation to obey the law of conservation of mass.

For example, MgCl₂ + I₂ would not proceed because iodine (I) is less reactive than magnesium (Mg). Conversely, CaBr₂ + F₂ would proceed because fluorine (F) is more reactive than bromine (Br) and will replace it in the compound, forming CaF₂ and liberating Br₂.