Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Metal displacement reaction chain

symboom - 17-2-2017 at 23:03

starting from silver nitrate
One metal displacing the other how long could this chain of reactions form

Silver nitrate + Copper
Copper nitrate

Lead + Copper nitrate
Lead nitrate

Iron + Lead nitrate
Iron nitrate

Zinc + iron nitrate
Zinc nitrate

Zinc nitrate + Magnesium
Magnesium nitrate
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I guess to start the chain over
Magnesium nitrate and heat
Nitrogen oxides absorb into water
Nitric acid

Nitric acid and silver metal
Silver nitrate
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Any one know how to make this chain of reactions longer
Maybe

Tin
Manganese
Bismuth
Nickel
Cobalt


j_sum1 - 17-2-2017 at 23:21

Here's your chain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_electrode_potential_(data_page)

Generally you need an overpotential of around 0.15-0.2V for a reaction to proceed. In an aqueous environment you are working between -0.8226V and 0.401V If you are clever you might be able to stack 6 displacement reactions into that range.