

An anion is a negatively charged ion or non-metal. In this reaction, one anion replaces another one from its solution. If a less reactive metal is added to a salt solution of more reactive metal, nothing will happen. H 2SO 4 is often used in the laboratory for the preparation of hydrogen gas. Metals such as aluminium, zinc, magnesium, iron, etc., react safely with dilute acids.react more vigorously with dilute acids forming metal salts and hydrogen gases.
#CATION REACTIVITY SERIES SERIES#
Similarly, metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series displace hydrogen from dilute acids.įor example :The metals such as potassium, sodium, lithium, etc.Iron displaces lead from the aqueous solution of lead nitrate.Also metals like Zn, Al, Pb, Fe, etc., displace Cu from copper salt solution.So it is more reactive than copper and it would displace copper from copper sulphate solution. In the reactivity series, the position of magnesium is above that of copper. If a strip of magnesium metal is placed in copper sulphate solution, the blue colour of copper sulphate disappears and the magnesium metal turns brown as the displaced copper is deposited on it.Let us demonstrate some examples of cation replacement reactions. All metal displacement reactions are cation replacement reactions. A cation is a positively charged ion or metal. In this reaction, one cation replaces another one from its solution. The activity series of halogen is F > Cl > Br > I.Īn important thing to remember with single displacement reaction is that elements that form cations can only displace cations and elements that form anions can only displace anions.Ĭlassification of single displacement reaction: The displacement reaction is not limited to metals only. Even non-metals can take part in these reactions.Įxamples are halogens. A metal placed higher in the activity series can displace the metal that occupies a lower position from the aqueous solution of its salt. Certain metals have the capacity to displace some metals from the aqueous solutions of their salts. How is the chemical reactivity of metals linked with their position in the electrochemical series?Ĭhemical reactivity of metals is linked with their relative positions in the activity series. Both metals and non-metals take part in displacement reactions.Įxample : Reaction of iron nails with copper sulphate solution. Theory What is a displacement reaction?ĭisplacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its compound. To study a single displacement reaction with the help of iron nails and copper sulphate solution.
