MINILAB 6.2 A Simple Exchange

Single-displacement reactions occur when one element replaces another in a compound. However, such a reaction does not automatically occur just because an element and a compound are mixed together. Whether or not such a reaction occurs depends on how reactive the element is compared to the element it is to displace.

PURPOSE: TO OBSERVE A SINGLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION AND DISCOVER THAT THE REACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS VARY.

HYPOTHESIS:

MATERIALS: 0.1 M AgNO₃ solution, test tube, test tube rack ,copper wire, steel wool, stop watch

PROCEDURE

1. Pour 0.1M AgNO₃ solution into a test tube until it is half full. Clean a piece of copper wire or copper foil with steel wool.

2. Drop the copper foil or copper wire into the solution.

3. Keeping the test tube absolutely still, observe what happens over a half-hour period of time.

OBSERVATIONS:

TIME(MIN)	DESCRIPTION
0
5
10
15
20
25
30

ANALYSIS

1. What changes do you observe in the wire?

In the solution?

2. Write a balanced equation for the reaction.

3. Does copper displace silver in silver nitrate?

Does silver displace copper in copper (II) nitrate?

How do you know?