Question

The following reaction is an example of a ____ reaction

2C₂H₆(g) + 7O₂(g) → 4CO₂(g) + 6H₂O(g)
a. displacement
b. single replacement
c. combustion
d. decomposition

Answer 1

A single-replacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which one element is substituted for another element in a compound, generating a new element and a new compound as products.

Step-by-step explanation:

A single-replacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which one element is substituted for another element in a compound, generating a new element and a new compound as products. For example, the reaction
2 HCl(aq) +Zn(s) → ZnCl₂ (aq) + H₂(g)
is an example of a single-replacement reaction.

The hydrogen atoms in HCl are replaced by Zn atoms, and in the process a new element hydrogen is formed. Another example of a single-replacement reaction is 2 NaCl(aq) + F₂ (g) → 2 NaF(s) + Cl₂(g) where the negatively charged ion changes from chloride to fluoride. A key characteristic of a single-replacement reaction is that there is one element as a reactant and another element as a product.