When zinc metal is placed into a solution of silver nitrate, silver metal and zinc nitrate are produced according to this reaction: Zn(s) + 2 AgNO3(aq) —> 2 Ag(s) + Zn(NO3)2(aq). What chemical atom or ion in the reaction above is reduced? Give a reason for your choice
In the reaction given, the silver ion (Ag+) in silver nitrate is reduced to silver metal (Ag). This is because the silver ion gains electrons from the zinc metal (Zn) in order to form elemental silver. Reduction is the gain of electrons, and in this reaction, the silver ion gains electrons to form solid silver metal.
