5.2: Displacement Reactions

Question 1

single displacement

Answer 1

a + bc -> ac + b OR ba + c (depending on whether a is a metal or a non-metal)

Question 2

activity series

Answer 2

listing of non-metals or metals in order of chemical reactivity: most reactive at the top, least reactive at the bottom

used to determine if a displacement reaction will take place

exception to the metal activity series: hydrogen is there because it is positively charged, and so can act as a metal. The element formed in these single displacement reactions is hydrogen gas

Question 3

double displacement

Answer 3

ab + cd -> ad + cb
reactants are two ionic compounds in a solution
for the dd reactions we study, one of the products will be a precipitate

Question 4

food preservation

Answer 4

sulphur dioxide is used to retain the light colour of dried fruits.
sulphur dioxide gas is produced by an initial double displacement reaction, followed by a decomposition reaction