Single Replacement Reactions
Single replacement reactions can take several forms, but essentially
involves the replacement of one element by another. Examples of the different
basic equations which fall into these categories;
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) ----> MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Na(s) + H2O(l) ----> NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Zn(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq) ----> Zn(NO3)2(aq)
+ Cu(s)
Cl2(aq) + Br-(aq) ----> Br2(aq)
+ Cl-(aq)
CuO(s) + H2(g) ----> Cu(s) + H2O(l)
Here are those same reactions as they should be written be an
AP student...
Mg(s) + 2H+(aq) ----> Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)
Na(s) + H2O(l) ----> Na+ + OH-(aq) + H2(g)
Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) ----> Zn2+(aq)
+ Cu(s)
Cl2(aq) + Br-(aq) ----> Br2(aq)
+ Cl-(aq)
CuO(s) + H2(g) ----> Cu(s) + H2O(l)
An excellent Web-based laboratory experiment can be found on
my web site titled 'The Activity of Metals'. It is a Flash simulation developed
by Han Chin and Dr. Tom Greenbowe at Iowa State University. The inquiry activity
was written by Dr. Michael Abraham (the University of Oklahoma) and myself.
Dr. Greenbowe is working on a number of these kinds of laboratory activities.