Write word equations for metal displacement reactions.

In a metal displacement reaction a more reactive metal replaces a less reactive metal from its compound. The word equation shows the reactants and products without chemical symbols. For example, when zinc metal reacts with copper(II) sulfate solution, the zinc displaces the copper: zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper. The key idea is that the metal higher in the reactivity series (zinc) is oxidised to Zn²⁺, while the metal lower in the series (copper) is reduced to Cu⁰. Word equations help students visualise the exchange of ions and the change in oxidation states without needing to write balanced equations.