Single Displacement Reactions  

 
 In this type of reaction one element replaces another element in a compound
 
A   +  BC  →  AB +  C 
 

 This can be the displacement of one metal by another:

 Zn(s)  +  CuSO4(aq)  →  Cu(s)  +  ZnSO4(aq)   


The activity series of metals is used to predict whether  this type of reaction will occur.