Explain in words what is happening in the reaction between copper and silver nitrate.
2AgNO3 + Cu ==> Ag + Cu(NO3)2
Cu metal is more easily oxidized than silver metal so the Cu metal is oxidized and the Ag ion is reduced to silver metal.
So do I have to write it as 2AgNO3 instead of just AgNO3?
In the reaction between copper and silver nitrate, a chemical reaction takes place resulting in the formation of new substances. Copper (Cu) is a solid metal, while silver nitrate (AgNO3) is a soluble compound dissolved in water.
The reaction starts when you place a piece of copper metal into a solution of silver nitrate. The copper atoms at the surface of the metal come into contact with the silver nitrate molecules. At this point, it is important to note that aqueous silver nitrate consists of silver cations (Ag+) and nitrate anions (NO3-).
When copper reacts with silver nitrate, a redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction occurs. The copper metal oxidizes, meaning it loses electrons, and gets converted into copper(II) ions (Cu2+). The silver cations, on the other hand, undergo reduction as they gain electrons and form solid silver (Ag) in the process.
The overall reaction can be represented as follows:
Cu (s) + 2AgNO3 (aq) → Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + 2Ag (s)
This equation shows that one copper atom reacts with two molecules of silver nitrate to produce one molecule of copper(II) nitrate dissolved in water and two atoms of solid silver.
The reaction between copper and silver nitrate is also a displacement reaction since copper displaces silver from the silver nitrate solution. As a result, the blue color of the solution fades, copper dissolves (oxidizes), and silver is deposited (reduces) as a solid on the surface of the copper.