A chemical reaction is described by the following equation:
[tex]$Cl_{2(l)}+2 NaI_{(a q)} \rightarrow 2 NaCl_{(a q)}+I_{2(s)}$[/tex]
What type of reaction is this?
Which of the statements below best describes this reaction?
A. One compound breaks down into two or more substances.
B. Two or more substances combine to form one compound.
C. A hydrocarbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
D. One of the elements in a compound is replaced.
E. Two compounds swap "partner" elements with each other.
Answer (1)
The reaction involves chlorine ( C l 2 ) replacing iodine ( I ) in sodium iodide ( N a I ).
Option A describes a decomposition reaction, which is incorrect.
Option B describes a combination reaction, which is incorrect.
Option C describes a combustion reaction, which is incorrect.
Option D correctly describes the reaction as one element replacing another.
Option E describes a double displacement reaction, which is incorrect.
The best description is that one element in a compound is replaced: D .
Explanation
Understanding the Reaction We are given the chemical reaction: C l 2 ( l ) + 2 N a I ( a q ) → 2 N a C l ( a q ) + I 2 ( s ) . We need to identify the type of reaction and choose the statement that best describes it from the given options.
Analyzing the Reaction Let's analyze the reaction. We start with chlorine ( C l 2 ) and sodium iodide ( N a I ). The products are sodium chloride ( N a Cl ) and iodine ( I 2 ). We can see that chlorine replaces iodine in sodium iodide to form sodium chloride, and iodine is released as a separate product.
Evaluating the Options Now, let's look at the options: A. One compound breaks down into two or more substances. - This is a decomposition reaction, which is not what we have here. B. Two or more substances combine to form one compound. - This is a combination reaction, which is also not what we have here. C. A hydrocarbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. - This is a combustion reaction, which is not relevant to our reaction. D. One of the elements in a compound is replaced. - This accurately describes what happens in our reaction: chlorine replaces iodine. E. Two compounds swap "partner" elements with each other. - This describes a double displacement reaction, which is not what we have here.
Selecting the Best Description Based on our analysis, the best description of the reaction is that one of the elements in a compound is replaced. This corresponds to option D.
Examples
This type of reaction, where one element replaces another in a compound, is commonly used in various industrial processes. For example, in the production of certain metals, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its ore. Similarly, in water purification, chlorine is used to displace and kill bacteria, making the water safe to drink. Understanding displacement reactions helps in designing and optimizing these processes.
