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Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution
Chapter 4, Problem 122b

(b) Which of the following reactions would you expect to occur according to the activity series you established in part (a)?

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Identify the activity series established in part (a) of the problem. The activity series is a list of metals arranged according to their ability to displace hydrogen from acid and other metals in aqueous solutions.
Examine each reaction given in part (b) to determine the order of the metals involved. According to the activity series, a metal can displace another metal from its compound if it is higher in the series.
For each reaction, compare the positions of the metals involved in the activity series. If the metal that is alone is higher than the metal in the compound, the reaction is likely to occur.
Consider any special conditions mentioned for the reactions, such as temperature or concentration, which might affect whether the reaction occurs even if one metal is higher in the activity series than the other.
Conclude which reactions are expected to occur based on the activity series and any special conditions. This will help in predicting the feasibility of each reaction.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Activity Series

The activity series is a list of metals ranked by their reactivity, with the most reactive metals at the top and the least reactive at the bottom. This series helps predict whether a metal will displace another in a chemical reaction. For example, a metal higher in the series can displace a metal lower in the series from its compound.
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Activity Series Chart

Displacement Reactions

Displacement reactions occur when one element replaces another in a compound. In the context of metals, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution. Understanding this concept is crucial for predicting the outcomes of reactions based on the activity series.
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Chemical Reactivity

Chemical reactivity refers to the tendency of a substance to undergo a chemical reaction, either by itself or with other materials. Factors influencing reactivity include atomic structure, electronegativity, and ionization energy. In the context of the activity series, the reactivity of metals determines their ability to participate in displacement reactions.
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