Which type of chemical reaction does this equation exemplify? synthesis decomposition double replacement single replacement

The answer is: single replacement.

Single replacement is reaction where neutral element metal or nonmetal become an ion as it replaces another ion in a compound.  

In this balanced chemical reaction magnesium (Mg) replaces copper (Cu).

Magnesium changes oxidation number from 0 to +2 (oxidation) and copper changes oxidation number from +2 to 0 (reduction).

Reactivity series is an empirical progression of a series of metals, arranged by their reactivity from highest to lowest (alkaline metals have highest reactivity and Noble metals lowest reactivity):  

K > Ba > Sr > Na > Ca > Mg > Be > Al > Mn > Zn > Cr> Fe > Cd > Co > Ni > Sn > Pb > H(in acids) > Cu > Hg > Ag.

Metal higher in the reactivity series will displace another and it will be oxidized.

vanderwaal's forces of attraction are the electrostatic intermolecular forces that exist in a molecule due to the temporary or permanent dipoles that are developed in a molecule. in , the major intermolecular forces are dipole-dipole interactions as the molecule is polar (bent structure). so the vanderwaal's forces of interaction in between molecules are the permanent dipole-dipole interactions that develop due to the dipole that exists in between the polar h - s bond. the positively charged hydrogen atom is attracted towards the negative end of the dipole that is sulfur of the adjacent molecule. therefore, these forces of attraction are relatively stronger than that of london dispersion forces that exist in non polar molecules.

c.

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