This exam focus covers Exam Focus within Displacement Reactions for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Displacement Reactions in Chemical Changes for GCSE Chemistry with 22 exam-style questions and 20 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 10 of 13 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 10 of 13
Practice
22 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
🎯 Exam Focus
Frequently Examined
Displacement reactions are tested regularly, often combined with ionic equations and redox:
- Predict and explain: "Would iron displace silver from silver nitrate solution? Explain." (2-3 marks)
- Observations: "Describe what you would observe when zinc is added to copper sulfate solution" (2 marks)
- Ionic equations: Write the ionic equation for a given displacement reaction (2 marks)
- Half equations (HT): Write oxidation and reduction half equations; state which species is oxidised/reduced (3-4 marks)
- Halogen displacement: Predict whether chlorine water would react with potassium iodide solution (1-2 marks)
Observations mark scheme tip: State the colour change in the solution AND describe the solid formed. Missing one of these loses marks.
Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 1 (1CH0/1). Edexcel tests both metal and halogen displacement reactions — be prepared to predict, write equations, and identify oxidised and reduced species using OIL RIG. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.
Quick Check: Iron is added to copper sulfate solution. Write the word equation and describe two observations.
Iron + copper sulfate → iron sulfate + copper. Observations: (1) The blue colour of the solution fades/disappears. (2) A brown/red solid (copper) forms on the surface of the iron.
Quick Check: Chlorine water is added to potassium bromide solution. Does a reaction occur? Write the equation.
Yes — chlorine is more reactive than bromine, so it displaces bromine. Cl₂ + 2KBr → 2KCl + Br₂. The solution turns orange/brown as bromine is produced.
Keep building this topic
Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Displacement Reactions. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.
Practice Questions for Displacement Reactions
Which statement correctly describes a displacement reaction?
In the reaction between zinc and copper sulfate solution, explain which species is oxidised and which is reduced. Include half equations in your answer. [3 marks]
Quick Recall Flashcards
22 questions on Displacement Reactions — practise free
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