__Single+Displacement__

Single Displacement
A Single Displacement reaction, otherwise known as substitution, is when an element and a compound react and switch places creating a different element and compound. The reason they switch is because one of elements is more reactive than the other. The generic form of this reaction: A+BC--->B+AC

An example of this type of reaction is when Magnesium and Hydrogen Chloride form Magnesium Chloride and Hydrogen gas. How to put this sentence into an equation:

Magnesium=Mg Hydrogen Chloride= HCl So the first half of the equation is done: Mg+HCl--->? To solve the second half is a little trickier... Magnesium Chloride is a little more complicated because Magnesium has a charge of +2. So you have to a "switcheroo" Mg is +2 and Cl is -1 so there is 1 Magnesium and 2 Chlorines= MgCl2 Hydrogen is a diatomic so it's H2 The full formula is Mg+HCl--->MgCl2+H2 what's wrong with this picture? it's not BALANCED! There are 2 Chlorine and Hydrogen atoms on the products side while there are only 1 of each on the reactant side. What do we use to solve this?? Coefficients: Mg+2HCl--->MgCl2+H2 Now it's finally finished!!

A picture of a Single Displacement reaction:

In this picture a copper wire is put into the liquid silver nitrate. The silver deposits and the copper replaces it.

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