Displacement Reactions
Summary: Reactions where a more reactive element replaces a less reactive one in a compound. Tags: concepts chemistry Created: 2026-05-03T00:00:00Z Last Updated: 2026-05-03T00:00:00Z
Content
A displacement reaction occurs when a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound. The reactivity series determines which elements can displace others.
Example:
- Zinc + copper sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper (Zn is more reactive than Cu, so it displaces copper from the compound.)
Displacement reactions are a key type of chemical reaction, often producing visible changes like color shifts or solid deposits.