In Class 10 Chemistry, one of the most important and visually interesting types of chemical reactions you study is the Displacement Reaction. It is a perfect example of how the 'Reactivity Series' of metals dictates chemical behavior.
A displacement reaction will NOT occur if you put a less reactive metal into the salt of a more reactive metal. For example, Silver placed in Copper Sulphate will result in 'No Reaction'.
Metals can also displace Hydrogen gas from acids (e.g., Zinc + Hydrochloric Acid).
A Displacement Reaction (or Single Displacement Reaction) is a chemical reaction in which a more highly reactive element displaces (kicks out and replaces) a less reactive element from its aqueous salt solution.
The most famous textbook example involves putting an iron nail into a blue solution of Copper Sulphate.
There is a second variation called a Double Displacement Reaction. In this, two different compounds completely exchange their ions to form two new compounds. This usually results in the formation of a solid precipitate.
It is a vertical list of metals arranged in decreasing order of their chemical reactivity. Potassium and Sodium are at the top (most reactive), while Gold and Platinum are at the bottom (least reactive).
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