Question

Which one of the following generally gets displaced by more electropositive metals in nonmetal displacement reactions.
A. ${H_2}$
B. ${N_2}$
C. ${F_2}$
D. $C{l_2}$

Answer 1

Hint: Displacement reaction is a reaction in which one element is displaced by another element. The more reactive element will displace the less reactive element. The more reactive metal lies at the top of the electrochemical series.

Complete step by step answer:
In displacement reaction, a metal from the electrochemical series is mixed with the metal which is placed lower down in the electrochemical series. In this displacement reaction, a more reactive push their electrons on the less reactive metal. Now, displacement reactions are of two types:

1.Single displacement reaction: It is a kind of oxidation reduction chemical reaction. For example, if chlorine is added in a solution of sodium bromide, then the chlorine will replace its position with bromine. Here, chlorine is more reactive than bromine and turns the solution in blue color.

2.Double displacement reaction: It is a reaction when a part of two ionic compounds are exchanged with each other and make two new compounds. This reaction generally takes place in aqueous solution, where exchange of ions takes place. For example, when barium chloride is mixed with sodium sulphate, it gives barium sulphate as a product and a white precipitate is formed.

3.Non-metal displacement reaction: It is a reaction in which either a metal or a non-metal displaces another non-metal of a compound. The non-metals have similar activity series just like the metals.

hydrogen can easily be displaced by the more electropositive metals in non-metal displacement reactions because hydrogen lies below the electropositive metals in the electrochemical series and therefore, the reactivity of the electropositive metals is much more than the hydrogen.

So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: Electrochemical series is defined as an activity series in which the elements are arranged in the order of their increasing electrode potential values. Electropositive elements are the elements which tend to lose their electrons to their solution. Electronegative elements are the elements that tend to withdraw electrons.