Final answer:
Nickel (Ni) cannot displace aluminum from aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) in a single-displacement reaction because nickel is less reactive according to the activity series; therefore, the answer is 'NR' for no reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to a single-displacement reaction involving nickel (Ni) and aluminum chloride (AlCl₃). When assessing potential reactions and products, we use the activity series to determine whether a metal can displace another metal from its compound. The activity series is a list of metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity. If a metal that is more reactive comes into contact with the ions of a less reactive metal, a single-displacement reaction can occur.
Looking at the activity series, we find that nickel (Ni) is less reactive than aluminum (Al), which implies that nickel cannot displace aluminum from its compound, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃). Therefore, there will be no reaction between Ni(s) and AlCl₃(aq), and the correct response is to write 'NR' for no reaction on both blank spaces on the product side.
The concept being tested is important in predicting whether certain metals can replace others in compounds, which is not only relevant in academic exercises but also in industrial processes and understanding the reactivity of metals.