Question

Which of the following steps can be used to identify a double replacement reaction?

(a) Check whether the products are salt and water.
(b) Check whether the reactants are an acid and a base.
(c) Check if the ions of two compounds exchange places.
(d) Check if one element replaces another element in a compound.

Answer 1

To identify a double replacement reaction, check if the ions of two compounds exchange places, resulting in the formation of new compounds, like a precipitate. Therefore correct option is C

Step-by-step explanation:

To identify a double replacement reaction, you should primarily look for the scenario where the cations and anions of two ionic compounds exchange partners in the reaction, creating two new compounds. Hence, the correct step for identifying a double replacement reaction is (c) Check if the ions of two compounds exchange places.

This exchange generally results in the formation of at least one insoluble product, such as a solid precipitate, a gas, or a molecular compound like water. Options (a) and (b) could potentially occur in a double replacement reaction, but they are not definitive for all cases. Lastly, option (d) describes a single-replacement reaction, which is an entirely different process.