In displacement reactions, reactive metals have the ability to displace less reactive metals from their compounds in solution or molten form.
Share
Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link and will create a new password via email.
In displacement reactions involving reactive metals, a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound. The more reactive metal forms a new compound with the non-metal part of the compound, pushing out the less reactive metal. For example, in the reaction between zinc and copper sulfate:
Zn(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → ZnSO₄(aq) + Cu(s)
Zinc, being more reactive, displaces copper from copper sulfate, resulting in the formation of zinc sulfate and the deposition of copper. This displacement phenomenon is a characteristic behavior of reactive metals and is utilized in various applications, including electrochemical processes and the extraction of metals from their ores.