What is produced when copper displaces silver in a reaction?

Study for the OSAT Physical Science Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

In this reaction, when copper displaces silver, it typically occurs in an ionic solution where silver is present as silver ions (Ag⁺), and copper is more reactive than silver. According to the principles of single displacement reactions, a more reactive metal can replace a less reactive metal from its compound.

When copper reacts with silver nitrate (AgNO₃), the reaction produces copper nitrate (Cu(NO₃)₂) and silver metal (Ag). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction can be represented as:

[ \text{Cu (s) + 2 AgNO₃ (aq) } \rightarrow \text{ Cu(NO₃)₂ (aq) + 2 Ag (s)} ]

In this equation, solid copper displaces silver from silver nitrate, resulting in the formation of copper nitrate in solution and silver precipitating out as a metallic solid. Therefore, the correct answer is that copper metal and silver nitrate are produced in the reaction, confirming the answer choice.

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