Question

In a single displacement reaction, a ___ reactive metal displaces a ___ reactive metal from its compound.

• A. more
• B. less

Answer 1

Displacement reaction: A reaction in which a more active element displaces a less active element from a compound is known as a displacement reaction.

$\underset{\mathrm{zinc}}{\mathrm{Example}:\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{sulfuric}\mathrm{acid}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{zinc}\mathrm{sulfate}}{{\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{hydrogen}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• Zn being a more active metal displaces hydrogen from sulfuric acid and forms the zinc sulfate.

Hence, in a single displacement reaction, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.