Displacements

The final category of reactions, redox, involves the transfer of electrons between atoms and encompasses many different types of reactions. Some of the more common ones include:

  • decomposition to elements
    mercury(II) oxide → mercury + oxygen
  • formation from elements
    sodium + chlorine → sodium chloride
  • metal or hydrogen displacement
    copper + silver nitrate → silver + copper(II) nitrate
    zinc + hydrochloric acid → hydrogen + zinc chloride
  • hydrocarbon combustion
    methane + oxygen → carbon dioxde + water
  • "other" (look out!)