Question #726a5

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
May 13, 2017

Silver is not displacing hydrogen.

Explanation:

The #"AgNO"_3# and #"HCl"# exist in solution as separate ions.

Tnus. the reaction,

#"AgNO"_3"(aq)" + "HCl(aq)" → "AgCl(s)" + "HNO"_3(aq)"#

is really

#"Ag"^"+""(aq)" + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("NO"_3"(aq)"))) + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("H"_3"O"^"+""(aq)"))) + "Cl"^"-""(aq)" → "AgCl(s)" + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("H"_3"O"^"+""(aq)"))) + color(red)(cancel(color(black)("NO"_3^"-"(aq)")))#

The nitrate and hydronium ions are not involved in the reaction, so the reaction is really just

#"Ag"^"+""(aq)" + "Cl"^"-""(aq)" → "AgCl(s)"#

The silver ion is reacting directly with the chloride ion, and the hydrogen is not involved in the reaction.

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