An example of a single replacement reactions is the polishing of silverware by soaking with aluminum. Silver reacts with Sulfur, S, to become Ag2S. Aluminum replaces the silver, Ag, in this reaction. Which of these is the correct balanced chemical reaction for this?
a. Ag + Al2S →Ag + Al2S3
b. Al + Ag2S → Ag + Al2S3
c. 2Al + 3Ag2S →6Ag + Al2S3
d. 2Ag + 3Al2S →6Ag + Al2S3
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To determine the correct balanced chemical reaction for the single replacement reaction of silver polishing with aluminum, we need to identify the elements and compounds involved and make sure the number of atoms of each element is balanced on both sides of the reaction.
In this reaction, silver (Ag) reacts with sulfur (S) to form silver sulfide (Ag2S), and aluminum (Al) replaces the silver in the compound.
The correct balanced chemical reaction for this process is:
b. Al + Ag2S → Ag + Al2S3
This reaction shows that one aluminum atom reacts with one silver sulfide compound to produce one silver atom and one aluminum sulfide compound.
To balance this equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides. In this case, there is one aluminum (Al) atom and one silver (Ag) atom on both sides of the equation, so it is already balanced.