Question

a piece of zn metal is added to an agno₃ solution, resulting in the plating of silver onto the piece of metal. this reaction is spontaneous. what describes this reaction? the reaction is a single replacement reaction. the reaction is an electrolytic cell. the reaction is a downs cell. the reaction is not a redox reaction.

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Single replacement reaction: In a single replacement reaction, an element replaces another element in a compound. Here, Zn (a metal) replaces Ag in \(AgNO_3\) (the reaction is \(Zn + 2AgNO_3=Zn(NO_3)_2 + 2Ag\)), so this fits.
• Electrolytic cell: Electrolytic cells require external energy (like a battery) to drive non - spontaneous reactions. But this reaction is spontaneous, so it's not an electrolytic cell.
• Downs cell: A Downs cell is used for the production of sodium metal from molten NaCl, which is not related to this Zn - Ag reaction.
• Redox reaction: In this reaction, Zn is oxidized (loses electrons, oxidation state from 0 to +2 in \(Zn(NO_3)_2\)) and Ag is reduced (gains electrons, oxidation state from +1 in \(AgNO_3\) to 0 in Ag), so it is a redox reaction. So the option saying it's not a redox reaction is wrong.

Answer:

The reaction is a single replacement reaction.