Reaction++three-+Single+Displacement


 * Single Displacement**

Single displacement is a reaction in which there is a lone element that reacts with a compound. The product is, like the reactant, a compound and a singular element, though the element that was once singular is now part of the compound, and part of the compound is now singular. Generically, a single displacement equation looks like this: A+BC  à AC+B

An actual equation could be: Copper Sulfate and Iron form Iron Sulfate and copper.

In order to change this into a formula, you must first know the symbols for each element in the equation Iron=Fe (not Ir, contrary to popular belief) Sulfate= SO4 (Considering SO4 stays as one entity through the entire equation, it doesn’t need to be broken down into Sulfur and Oxygen) Copper=Cu

The only subscripts in this equation will be in the sulfates. Remember that the number that is a subscript only applies to the element it is next to. In SO4, there are 4 oxygens and only **one** sulfate!

Any form of “creates” “makes” “forms” will indicate an arrow ( à ). So far we know:


 * CuSO4 + Fe **** à **** FeSO4 + Cu **

BUT WHAT ABOUT BALANCING!!?!? Actually, there is nothing wrong with the above equation, it is already balanced. In this equation, there is one copper, one sulfate, and one iron on each side, everyone is happy.  J Please take note to the fact that while going through the reaction, the Fe (Iron) and Cu (Copper) have switched places. That is the point of single displacement, after all. **Click to go back to Main Page**