Metal Displacement

For this relatively simple experiment, you place silver nitrate in a test tube and then a copper plate in the silver nitrate, giving the reaction AgNO3 + Cu ⇒ CuNO3 + Ag. This happens because the copper in the sheet is a neutral atom, meaning it has an equal amount of protons and electrons, whereas the silver in solution is a +1 ion, so it has one more proton than electrons and is ionically bonded to the nitrate molecule. According to the reactivity series, copper is more reactive than silver, so it will give up its electrons more easily. The copper atom gives 1 electron to 2 silver atoms, forming Cu+2, and 2 neutral silver atoms. The copper goes into solution and bonds with the nitrate, taking the place of the silver, which comes out of solution and attaches to the copper that has not yet reacted.