Question

A chemical reaction has the equation 2AgNO3 (aq) + Zn (s) 2Ag (s) + Zn(NO3)2 (aq). What type of reaction occurs between AgNO3 and Zn?

Answer 1

Answer: single replacement reaction

Explanation:

A single replacement reaction is one in which a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its salt solution. Thus one element should be different from another element.

A general single displacement reaction can be represented as :

$X+YZ\rightarrow XZ+Y$

The reaction $2AgNO_3(aq)+Zn(s)\rightarrow 2Ag(s)+Zn(NO_3)_2(aq)$

When zinc metal is added to aqueous silver nitrate, zinc being more reactive than silver displaces silver atom from its salt solution and lead to formation of zinc nitrate and silver metal.