Single displacement reaction

A single-displacement reaction, also known as single replacement reaction or exchange reaction, is a chemical reaction in which one element is replaced by another in a compound. It can be represented generically as: where * and are different metals (or any element that forms cation like hydrogen) and is an anion; or * and are halogens and is a cation. This will most often occur if is more reactive than , thus giving a more stable product. The reaction in that case is exergonic and spontaneous. (Hydrogen, Carbon and Ammonium are not metals but form cations.)

Single displacement reaction

A single-displacement reaction, also known as single replacement reaction or exchange reaction, is a chemical reaction in which one element is replaced by another in a compound. It can be represented generically as: where * and are different metals (or any element that forms cation like hydrogen) and is an anion; or * and are halogens and is a cation. This will most often occur if is more reactive than , thus giving a more stable product. The reaction in that case is exergonic and spontaneous. (Hydrogen, Carbon and Ammonium are not metals but form cations.)