Question

Will the following reaction take place? `"Mg + PbCl"_2"``rarr``"MgCl"_2 + "Pb"`

Answer 1

Yes.

Explanation:

In a single replacement (displacement) reaction involving metals, an elemental metal replaces a metal in a compound. The general equation is A + BX `rarr` B + AX, where A and B are metals.

In order for a single replacement reaction to occur, A must be more reactive than B. We use an activity series of metals in order to determine the reactivity of different metals. The higher a metal is in the series, the more reactive it is. A metal will replace a metal listed below it in the activity series.

Magnesium (Mg) is above lead (Pb) in the activity series, so the reaction will take place.

`"Mg"+"PbCl"_2"` `rarr` `"MgCl"_2"+Pb"`