To determine the type of reaction represented by the chemical equation
[tex]\[
2 \text{Li} + \text{CaCl}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{LiCl} + \text{Ca}
\][/tex]
we should analyze the reactants and the products in the equation.
1. Identify the reactants and products:
- Reactants: [tex]\(2 \text{Li}\)[/tex] and [tex]\(\text{CaCl}_2\)[/tex]
- Products: [tex]\(2 \text{LiCl}\)[/tex] and [tex]\(\text{Ca}\)[/tex]
2. Identify the process happening in the equation:
- Lithium ([tex]\( \text{Li} \)[/tex]) is reacting with calcium chloride ([tex]\( \text{CaCl}_2 \)[/tex]).
- In the products, lithium chloride ([tex]\( \text{LiCl} \)[/tex]) and calcium ([tex]\( \text{Ca} \)[/tex]) are formed.
3. Determine the reaction type by definition:
- Combustion involves a substance reacting with oxygen to produce energy (as heat and light), usually producing oxides.
- This reaction does not involve oxygen or produce oxides, so it is not combustion.
- Synthesis involves two or more simple substances combining to form a more complex substance.
- This type of reaction results in more complex products from simpler reactants, which is not evident here since atoms are simply exchanged.
- Double-replacement involves two compounds exchanging partners to form two new compounds.
- This reaction does not fit a double-replacement reaction since we aren't seeing the exchange of ions between two compounds.
- Single-replacement involves an element replacing another element in a compound.
- In the reaction, lithium ([tex]\( \text{Li} \)[/tex]) replaces calcium ([tex]\( \text{Ca} \)[/tex]) in calcium chloride ([tex]\( \text{CaCl}_2 \)[/tex]), forming lithium chloride ([tex]\( \text{LiCl} \)[/tex]) and elemental calcium ([tex]\( \text{Ca} \)[/tex]).
Given this analysis, we can conclude that the type of reaction is:
[tex]\[
\boxed{\text{Single-replacement}}
\][/tex]
