Question

What type of reaction is represented by each of the following equation?

$\mathrm{AL}+\mathrm{X}\to \mathrm{AX}+\mathrm{L}$

Answer 1

1. Displacement reaction

Displacement reaction is a class of chemical reactions in which one anion and one cation of two different compounds exchange their positions which leads to the formation of new products.

In the given reaction, L is displaced by X and forms AX. L separates out from AL as a single element on the product side. This is a type of displacement reaction. This is because, in this reaction, one atom (L) is displaced by another atom (X) in a molecule.

2. Example of displacement reaction

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{CuCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{ZnCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{Copper}\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{chloride}\mathrm{Copper} \\ \mathrm{chloride} \end{gathered}$$

In this reaction, Chlorine is displaced by the Zinc in order to form Zinc chloride. Thus, the type of reaction is displacement reaction.