Question

The below reaction is an example of:
\[F{e_2}{O_3} + 2Al \to A{l_2}{O_3} + 2Fe\].
A. Combination reaction
B. Decomposition reaction
C. Displacement reaction
D. Double displacement reaction

Answer 1

Hint:The reaction occurs between iron oxide and aluminium. Iron and aluminium both are metals in the periodic table and exhibit oxidizing and reducing properties.

Complete step by step answer:Iron is an element in the periodic table with atomic number\[26\]. Its electronic configuration is \[\left[ {Ar} \right]3{d^6}4{s^2}\]. It is a transition metal.
Aluminium is an element in the periodic table with atomic number \[13\]. Its electronic configuration is \[\left[ {Ne} \right]3{s^2}3{p^1}\]. Aluminum appears as a silvery white and shining, soft and ductile metal.
The given reaction is the reaction of aluminium with iron oxide to produce aluminium oxide and iron. This is an example of displacement reaction.
The concept behind such a type of reaction is that the element which is more reactive than other elements will displace it from its compound. The common reactivity order is platinum< gold< silver< copper< hydrogen< lead< tin< iron< zinc< carbon< aluminium< magnesium< calcium< sodium< potassium.
From the reactivity order it is clear that aluminum is more reactive metal than iron. So aluminium will displace iron from its oxide in this reaction. This type of chemical reaction in which one element being more reactive displaces another element is known as displacement reaction.
Thus the less reactive metal is displaced by the more reactive metal. Further in this case as only one-time displacement is occurring in one direction hence it is referred as a single displacement reaction.
Hence option C is the correct answer.

Note: Displacement reaction applies to both metals and nonmetals of the periodic table. A combination reaction involves the combination of two or more elements to form one compound. A decomposition reaction is the reverse of a combination reaction in which a compound is decomposed to produce two same or two different molecules. The double displacement reaction is the reaction in which the cations and anions of two compounds interchange their positions.