The reaction between nickel (Ni) and fluorine (F2) is classified as a single replacement reaction (SR) because nickel replaces the fluorine in the compound NiF2.
The reaction between Ni (nickel) and F2 (fluorine) can be classified as a single replacement reaction (SR).
In a single replacement reaction, one element replaces another element in a compound. In this case, the nickel (Ni) is replacing the fluorine (F) in the compound NiF2 (nickel fluoride).
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:
Ni + F2 → NiF2
Here's a step-by-step explanation of why this reaction is classified as a single replacement:
1. Nickel (Ni) is a more reactive metal compared to fluorine (F). This means that nickel has a higher tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions.
2. Fluorine (F2) is a diatomic molecule, consisting of two fluorine atoms bonded together. It is highly reactive and has a tendency to gain electrons to form negative ions.
3. In the reaction, nickel (Ni) reacts with fluorine (F2) to form nickel fluoride (NiF2). The nickel atom loses two electrons to become Ni2+, while the two fluorine atoms gain one electron each to become F- ions.
4. The reaction can be represented as: Ni + F2 → NiF2