Displacement and Electron Transfer

Production of Materials‎ > ‎4. Electrochemical Methods‎ >

Explain the displacement of metals from solution in terms of transfer of electrons

  • Oxidation: Loss of electrons.
  • Reduction: Gain of electrons.
  • Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) Reaction: A reaction in which both oxidation and reduction occur, and hence transfer of electrons occurs.
  • Displacement Reaction: A reaction in which a more reactive metal converts the ion of a less reactive metal to the neutral atom.
  • Displacement reactions are redox reactions, with the more reactive metal being oxidised, and the ion of the less reactive metal being reduced.
  • In displacement reactions, electrons are transferred from the more reactive metal to the ion of the less reactive metal.