Describe the characteristics of single replacement reaction, how it is identified, and what determines if this reaction will occur. Give an example in your response. (10 points)

Explained below

Explanation:

A single replacement reaction is one that will happen as a result of an element reacting with a compound to result in a product of a new element and a new compound.

The major characteristic of this single placement reaction is that there is one element acting as a reactant and another element acting as a product.

For example when a metal replaces another metal like when cadmium reacts with copper II chloride;

Cd + CuCl2 = Cu + CdCl2

Also, when a halogen replaces another halogen like when Chlorine reacts with sodium iodide;

Cl2 + 2NaI = I2 + 2NaCl

For us to determine if a single replacement reaction will occur, we must make use of the Activity Series table.

For example, a single displacement reaction will occur If the metal is above the element which it's going to replace based on the activity series table.

An example is when magnesium reacts with hydrogen chloride, the magnesium replaces the hydrogen element because magnesium is higher than Hydrogen in the activity series table.

Mg + 2HCl = H2 + MgCl2