The displacement reaction between iron and copper sulfate can be represented by the chemical equation:
Fe(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → FeSO₄(aq) + Cu(s)
In this reaction, iron (Fe) displaces copper (Cu) from copper sulfate (CuSO₄). The iron undergoes oxidation, losing electrons to form iron ions (Fe²⁺), while copper ions (Cu²⁺) are reduced to elemental copper (Cu). This displacement reaction showcases the reactivity of metals and is a common example of a single replacement or substitution reaction in chemistry. The balanced equation ensures that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the reaction.