Double replacement is a type of chemical reaction where two compounds exchange components to form two new compounds. This typically occurs in aqueous solutions, where the ions of the reactants swap partners. For example, when sodium chloride reacts with silver nitrate, the sodium ions and silver ions exchange places, resulting in the formation of silver chloride and sodium nitrate. In a double replacement reaction, the driving force is often the formation of a precipitate, a gas, or a weak electrolyte. These products are more stable than the reactants, making the reaction favorable. Understanding this process is essential in fields like chemistry and environmental science.