What is a displacement reaction in chemistry?
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
A displacement reaction (also called a substitution reaction) occurs when a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its compound. For example, when zinc is added to copper sulfate solution, zinc displaces copper: Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu. The rule is that a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution. This is different from physical displacement but uses the same concept of "replacing" or "taking the position of" something else.
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