Question

EXPERIMENT 3: What do the observations during the reaction tell you about this single displacement reaction

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

This question is incomplete. However, let's understand what a single displacement reaction is and what occurs during such reactions.

A single displacement reaction is a reaction in which a more reactive element displaces/replaces a less reactive element in a compound. The reactions below depict a single displacement reaction.

A + BC ⇒ AC + B

2Al + Fe₂O₃ ⇒ Al₂O₃ + 2Fe

During chemical reactions, heat is either absorbed from the environment (endothermic reaction) or given off into the environment (exothermic reaction). During bond formation (in a reaction), heat is released into the environment (exothermic) while when bonds are broken, heat is absorbed from the environment (endothermic).

During single displacement reaction, heat is given off, hence single displacement reaction is an exothermic reaction because it involves the formation of a bond (for the compound formed in the product).

Please note that it can be argued that bonds were also broken in the reactants before new ones are formed in the products, however the bonds broken in the reactant do not require much heat from the environment because the more reactive element ordinarily has a higher activity than the displaced element thus, the entire reaction produces heat (exothermic) when the new bond is being formed.

What is usually observed during a single displacement reaction is the release of heat and this shows the reaction is an exothermic reaction.