Question

Question #726a5

Answer 1

Silver is not displacing hydrogen.

Explanation:

The `"AgNO"_3` and `"HCl"` exist in solution as separate ions.

Tnus. the reaction,

`"AgNO"_3"(aq)" + "HCl(aq)" → "AgCl(s)" + "HNO"_3(aq)"`

is really

`"Ag"^"+""(aq)" + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("NO"_3"(aq)"))) + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("H"_3"O"^"+""(aq)"))) + "Cl"^"-""(aq)" → "AgCl(s)" + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("H"_3"O"^"+""(aq)"))) + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("NO"_3^"-"(aq)")))`

The nitrate and hydronium ions are not involved in the reaction, so the reaction is really just

`"Ag"^"+""(aq)" + "Cl"^"-""(aq)" → "AgCl(s)"`

The silver ion is reacting directly with the chloride ion, and the hydrogen is not involved in the reaction.