section_path: Reaction types/Four basic types/Single displacement
section_name: Single displacement
paragraph_text: Single displacement
  
  In a single displacement reaction, a single uncombined element replaces another in a compound; in other words, one element trades places with another element in a compound These reactions come in the general form of: A + BC ⟶ AC + B {\displaystyle {\ce {A + BC->AC + B}}}
  
  One example of a single displacement reaction is when magnesium replaces hydrogen in water to make solid magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas: Mg + 2 H 2 O ⟶ Mg (OH) 2 ↓ + H 2 ↑ {\displaystyle {\ce {Mg + 2H2O->Mg(OH)2 (v) + H2 (^)}}}