Question

Following reaction is an example of which type of reaction: $NaCl + AgN{O_3}$ gives $AgCl + NaN{O_3}$ ?

Answer 1

There are five types of chemical reactions such as, Combination reaction, decomposition reaction, displacement reaction, double-displacement reaction and oxidation-reduction reaction. If we have to know what type of given reaction is, then, we will first see how the reaction is proceeding and what is happening in it.

Complete answer:
The given reaction is:
$NaCl + AgN{O_3} \to AgCl + NaN{O_3}$
So, we can see that in the above reaction, two compounds (reactants) are reacting with each other to give two new compounds. The sodium ion $(Na + )$ of $NaCl$ displaces $Ag +$ from its compound $AgN{O_3}$ to form $NaN{O_3}$ compound, while the remaining $A{g^ + }$ ions and $C{l^ - }$ ions combine with each other to form $AgCl$ compound.
Hence, this can be observed that two ions are displacing each other from their solutions and forming new compounds with different physical and chemical properties. Therefore, the above given reaction is a double- displacement reaction.
The reaction in which two compounds react by an exchange of ions to form two new compounds is known as Double Displacement Reaction.
In this type of reaction a stronger (more reactive on the basis of reactivity series) metal or element displaces other elements from its compound.
Reactivity of elements is given by reactivity series in which the order of reactivity of metals in decreasing order is as follows:-
$K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au$
Therefore, from the above reactivity series, we can say that sodium is much stronger than silver, so it can easily displace silver from its solution.
Hence, the above given reaction is a type of double-displacement reaction.

Note:
We should not get confused between displacement reaction and double- displacement reaction, as Displacement reaction is The reaction in which an element takes the place of another element in solution while double- displacement reaction in which two compounds react by an exchange of ions to form two new compounds .