What is the Difference between a Single and Double Replacement Reaction?
While there are several types of chemical reactions, there are four main kinds that each type falls into: synthesis reaction (also known as combination reaction), decomposition reaction, and single and double replacement reaction. The basic difference between the first two kinds is predictable given their perspective names. Synthesis, which in this case means to join, results in two or more base substances binding together on a molecular level to create a single compound. In contrast, a decomposition reaction results in a breakdown of individual components to yield separate substances, much as the name implies. It may be tempting to apply the same logic to predict the outcome of a single and double replacement reaction, respectively. In fact, it could lead one to think that a single replacement reaction means that a single energy exchange has occurred to produce a single new product and a double two. However, both a single and double replacement reaction involve two reactants that prod
