EXPERIMENT 5.
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
Saint Joseph’s University
Department of Chemistry
INTRODUCTION
There are at least four types of chemical reactions that occur in solution: Gas forming,
precipitation, acid-base and oxidation-reduction. Another type of chemical reaction that
we have seen is the dehydration reaction, identical to the reaction that we studied in
“Copper Transformation” in step 3 of the procedure. In a dehydration experiment a solid
is heated which loses water molecules in the process.
A gas-forming reaction occurs when a solution is added to another solution or a solid,
and a gaseous product forms.
A precipitation reaction occurs when two soluble solutions are combined and a
precipitate, or a solid form. The ions that are not involved in forming the solid are called
spectator ions.
When a strong acid and a strong base are reacted, the products are a salt (composed
of the cation of the base and the anion of the acid) and water.
During an oxidation-reduction reaction, electron transfer occurs. One of the reactants is
oxidized and the other reactant is reduced. Oftentimes oxidation-reduction reactions
are written with only the ions directly involved in the reaction, the spectator ions are not
included.
As part of this experiment, you will be required to write complete and net ionic equations
for each of the individual reactions. In a complete ionic equation, all substances that
are strong electrolytes (or soluble salts) are represented as ions. For example,
Understanding Different Types of Chemical Reactions, SJU, Department of Chemistry 29
potassium chromate and barium nitrate react to form barium chromate and potassium
nitrate:
K2CrO4 (aq) + Ba(NO3)2 (aq) → BaCrO4(s) + 2 KNO3 (aq)
In the complete ionic equation, all compounds followed by (aq) are written as aqueous
ions:
2 K+(aq) + CrO42-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) → BaCrO4(s) + 2 K+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq)
Barium chromate is not split up into ions, as it is an insoluble salt or a precipitate.
In the net ionic equation, only those soluble ions involved in the formation of the
precipitate (or gas, or liquid) are included. The other ions are called spectator ions. In
the previous reaction, potassium and nitrate are the spectator ions. The net ionic
equation is written below:
CrO42-(aq) + Ba2+(aq) → BaCrO4(s)
PROCEDURE
Safety Precautions: Bunsen burners are used in this experiment. Make sure to tie back
long hair and avoid getting close with any loose sleeves. Remember to point the test
tube away from you, your partner and anyone else working around you at the bench.
1. Reacting magnesium metal with hydrochloric acid.
Mg (s) + HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Transfer a piece of Mg ribbon to the bottom of a clean test tube. Record the
appearance of the Mg. Add 2 mL of 0.1 M HCl to the test tube containing the Mg.
Before adding the HCl, note the appearance of the solution. Observe the chemical
reaction and record the evidence that a chemical reaction has occurred and record the
appearance of the products.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
2. Reacting lead(II) nitrate solution with potassium iodide solution.
Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + KI (aq) → PbI2 (s) + KNO3 (aq)
Dispense a few drops of 0.1 M Pb(NO3)2 into a clean test tube. Record the appearance
of the solution in your data sheet. Transfer the 0.1 M KI solution into the same test
tube. Note the appearance of the KI solution before the addition. Observe the chemical
reaction and record the evidence that a chemical reaction has occurred and record the
appearance of the products.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
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For this and all subsequent reactions, record the appearance of each reactant before
the reaction, the evidence that a chemical reaction has occurred, and the appearance of
the products.
3. Heating copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.
CuSO4 ▪ 5H2O (s) + heat → CuSO4 (s) + H2O (g)
Transfer the amount of CuSO4 ▪ 5H2O that fills the end of a clean, dry micro spatula to
the bottom of a clean, dry test tube.
Grasp the test tube with a test tube holder and strongly heat the bottom of the test tube
in a Bunsen burner flame. Be sure to direct the opening of the test tube away from
yourself and away from your classmates. Record all of your observations. Discard the
products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
4. Reacting hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide.
HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H2O (ℓ) + NaCl (aq)
Add 2 mL of 0.1 M NaOH into a clean test tube. Add one drop of phenolphthalein
indicator solution to the NaOH solution. Record your observations.
Add 3 mL of 0.1 M HCl solution to a clean, dry 10-mL graduated cylinder. Add one drop
of phenolphthalein indicator solution to the HCl solution. Record your observations.
Carefully pour 1 mL of the HCl solution from the graduated cylinder into the test tube
containing the NaOH solution. Record your observations.
Use a Pasteur pipet to add the remaining 2 mL of HCl solution dropwise from the
graduated cylinder until you see a color change in the solution in the test tube. Record
your observations.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
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5. Heating copper metal in the presence of oxygen.
Cu (s) + O2 (g) → CuO (s)
Obtain enough copper mesh to cover the bottom of a crucible. Position the crucible in a
wire triangle supported by a ring and ring stand. Heat the crucible and its contents until
the crucible is glowing red. Remove the heat and allow the contents to cool to room
temperature.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
6. Reacting copper(II) sulfate with iron metal.
CuSO4 (aq) + Fe (s) → FeSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
Place a paper clip (Fe metal) into a clean, dry test tube. Dispense 2 mL of 0.1 M CuSO4
solution into the same test tube. This reaction may not be immediate. Allow this test
tube to sit in your test tube rack and examine it in 5-minute intervals to confirm that a
reaction has occurred.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
7. Reacting ferric chloride solution with sodium hydroxide.
FeCl3 (aq) + NaOH (aq) → Fe(OH)3 (s) + NaCl (aq)
Dispense 1 mL of 0.1 M FeCl3 into a clean, dry test tube. Add 1 mL of 1.0 M NaOH into
the test tube containing FeCl3. If the reaction is not apparent, you may need to add an
additional 1 mL of NaOH to the test tube.
Discard the products of this reaction into the appropriate discard container.
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Notebook report
Be sure to include the following:
Data Sheet
1. All observations, equations and reactions should be listed. There are no calculations for
this experiment.
Conclusions
2. Briefly summarize the types of reactions and identify the reaction for each step.
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DATA SHEET
For each of the following reactions that you carried out, record the appearance of each reactant and of
each product. Record the observation that is evidence a chemical reaction occurred. For each reaction,
write the balanced complete ionic equation and the net ionic equation. Lastly, label each reaction type as
gas-forming, precipitation, acid-base, dehydration, or oxidation-reduction.
1. Reacting magnesium metal with hydrochloric acid.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
2. Reacting lead(II) nitrate solution with potassium iodide solution.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
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3. Heating copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
4. Reacting hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
Understanding Different Types of Chemical Reactions, SJU, Department of Chemistry 35
5. Heating copper metal in the presence of oxygen.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
6. Reacting copper(II) sulfate with iron metal.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
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7. Reacting ferric chloride solution with sodium hydroxide.
Appearance of reactants:
Appearance of products:
Evidence that a chemical reaction occurred:
Complete ionic equation:
Net ionic equation:
Reaction type:
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PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
For each chemical reaction described in the Procedure, write the balanced chemical
reaction, and label each reaction as gas-forming, precipitation, acid-base, dehydration,
or oxidation-reduction.
1. Reacting magnesium metal with hydrochloric acid.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
2. Reacting lead(II) nitrate solution with potassium iodide solution.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
3. Heating copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
4. Reacting hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
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5. Heating copper metal in the presence of oxygen.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
6. Reacting copper(II) sulfate with iron metal.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
7. Reacting ferric chloride solution with sodium hydroxide.
Balanced chemical reaction:
Reaction type:
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Post-Lab Questions
1. Which of the seven reactions was a reduction-oxidation reaction? Identify the
species reduced and oxidized. What is the oxidizing agent and the reducing
agent? (If there are multiple reactions select only one)
2. Which of the seven reactions was an acid-base reaction? Identify the acid and
base. (If there are multiple reactions select only one)
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