Chemical Changes: Single Displacement

Single Displacement

In this type of reaction, one element replaces another in a compound. This happens in two situations:
1. When a metal displaces a metal
2. A non-metal displaces a non-metal

In most single displacement reactions there is an element and an ionic compound as reactants.

The general pattern is:

A + BC --> AC + B

element A displaces element B

A and B are elements

BC and AC are compounds

Double Displacement

Double Displacement is a biomolecular process involving the exchange of bonds between the two reacting chemical species, which results in the creation of products with similar or identical bonding affiliations. To illustrate, consider two chemical species, AB and CD, which react to give AD and CB:

AB + CD → AD + CB
These chemical species can either be ionic or covalent.

A neutralization reaction is a specific type of double displacement reaction. Neutralization occurs when an acid reacts with an equal amount of a base. A neutralization reaction creates a solution of salt and water.

On the next post, I will be talking about combustion.