TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
1- SYNTHESIS:
• 2 or more reactants join together to make fewer products
in general: A + B → AB
+ →
N2(g) + H2(g) → NH3(g)
Mg(s) + O2(g) → MgO(s)
2- DECOMPOSITION:
• a compound breaks apart to make several smaller components
in general: AB → A + B
→ +
H2O2 (l) → H2O(l) + O2(g)
NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)
3- SINGLE DISPLACEMENT:
• when a more reactive element replaces a less reactive element in a
compound, resulting in a new element and new compound
• like substances are displaced: metal (cation) replaces metal (cation)
in general: A + BC → B + AC
+ → +
Cu(s) + AgNO3(aq) → Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)
Al(s) + Pb(NO3)2(aq) → Al(NO3)3(aq) + Pb(s)
4- DOUBLE DISPLACEMENT:
• two compounds exchange/trade one element each
• like displaces like
• 2 aqueous reactants often produce one precipitate (solid product)
and one aqueous product.
in general: AB + CD → AD + CB
+ → +
Na2CO3(aq) + CaCl2(aq) → CaCO3(s) + NaCl(aq)
CH3Br(g) + HCl(g) → CH3Cl(g) + HBr(g)
SPECIAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION:
• A fuel reacts rapidly with oxygen gas, causing it to burn &
produce light and heat.
• Oxygen combines with EACH element of the substance being burned.
• If the fuel is organic (contains C & H… and often O), the products
will always be carbon dioxide gas & water vapour.
• If the reaction is slow (no burning), then the reaction is called
oxidation or rusting...eg. apple turning brown, metal rusting.
(a) C3H8(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g)
(b) C6H12O6(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g)
(c) Cu(s) + O2(g) → Cu2O(g)
(d) Fe(s) + O2(g) → Fe2O3(s)
*NOTE: (d) is an oxidation, not a combustion. How can you tell?
What type of reactions are (c) & (d)?
INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION:
• When there isn’t enough O2 to react with an organic fuel, some
additional products will form (besides CO2, H2O):
CO (which blocks O2 from attaching to red blood cells),
C (soot or ash → produces airborn dust and air pollution),
NxOx (due to rxns with N2 in atmosphere)
SO2 (due to burning coal)
*these are all forms of pollution, including CO2 which causes…
man made global warming!
NxOx and SO2 are the main cause of acid rain.
• compensation for engine driven equipment:
-air scoops on sport cars, jet airplanes
-catalytic converters on all equipment
Tips for predicting the products of different chemical reactions:
1-Ignore the subscripts of the reactants when predicting the
products…just use your periodic table and the standard method for the
determining the formula of a compound!
Balancing the reactants and products will fix any discrepancies.
2-in a synthesis reaction involving a metal, a non-metal and oxygen,
the product will be always be an ionic compound with a polyatomic
ion.
3-any synthesis reaction we give you that starts with all non-metals,
will produce one of the common covalent molecules we have taught
you.
4. You need to memorize the synthesis and decomposition reactions for
H2O2 and H2O.
Combustion/Oxidation
5. When O2 reacts with any other compound, it goes through a separate
synthesis reaction with EACH element in the compound.
6. When O2 reacts with organic compounds (with C and H) in a
complete combustion, it only produces CO2 and H2O.
7. Incomplete combustion will also produce C, CO, NxOx and SO2
Acid/Base
8. Metal oxides react with water to form bases with hydroxide.
9. Non-metal oxides react with water to form oxy-acids.
10. Neutralization reactions with “OH-” produce water + salt.
11. Neutralization reactions with “HCO3-” produce water + salt + CO2.
