Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions

College of the Canyons Fall 2020

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INTRODUCTION

Atoms gain or lose electrons to yield ions, or combine with other atoms to form molecules. The symbols
of atoms are combined to represent the chemical compounds that are formed. A chemical reaction is when
one or more substances undergo a chemical change to form new substance(s). There are several
observations that are evidence of a chemical reaction. Some of these possible observations are the
production of a gas, the formation of a precipitate, a color change, or even an energy change in the form of
heat. One chemical reaction that you’ve performed several times already is the combustion of methane
(CH4). The combustion of methane results in the following observations: light is emitted, heat is emitted,
and water vapor is released.

In chemistry, it is important that we can represent each chemical reaction in terms of the atoms involved.
A chemical equation represents the chemical or physical change that take place including the identities
and the relative quantities of the chemical substances. For example, when one methane molecule (CH4)
and two diatomic oxygen molecules (O2) react, one carbon dioxide molecule (CO2) and two water
molecules (H2O) are formed. This reaction is represented in Figure 1 below using a chemical equation and
a space-filling model.

Figure 1: Chemical Equation and Space-Filling Model for the Formation of Methane

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There are four fundamental aspects to any chemical equation:

1. The substances that are on the left side of the equation are known as reactants, and they are the
substances undergoing reaction.
2. The substances on the right side of the equation are known as products, and they are the substances
generated by the reaction.
3. Plus signs (+) separate individual reactants and products, while an arrow (→) separates the left side
(reactants) and right side (products) of a reaction.
4. The relative number of products and reactants for a particular reaction are represented using
coefficients, the numbers to the left of each chemical formula. When the coefficient is 1, the

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

number is typically omitted. These coefficients are reduced to the lowest whole-number ratio in a
chemical equation. Because matter is not created or destroyed by a chemical reaction, the numbers
of atoms must be the same on either side of the reaction. The atoms are ‘balanced’ by adjusting the
chemical coefficients of the reactants and products.

In addition to these basic features of a chemical equation, various symbols are used to describe a chemical
reaction.
1. Each reactant and product must have an indicated state of matter. Solids or precipitates are
represented by (s), liquids by (l), gases by (g), and aqueous solutions as (aq).
2. If a reaction does not take place, NR (which stands for ‘No Reaction’) is written after the → in a
reaction.
3. If heat is used in a reaction, the symbol ∆ is written above the →

There are five basic types of chemical reactions: combination, combustion, single displacement, double
displacement, and decomposition reactions. Neutralization, acid-base, and gas-forming reactions are
reactions that can also be classified as double-displacement reactions.

Single-displacement reactions occur when one element displaces another in a compound. All single
displacement reactions have the general form:

A + BC → B + AC

Example of a single displacement reaction:

Zn(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

There are multiple types of double-displacement reactions, reactions with the form:

AB + CD → AD + CB

The first type, a precipitation reaction, occurs when the cations and anions of aqueous ionic compounds
switch partners, forming the two new ionic compounds, AD and CB. One of the new ionic compounds
formed is an insoluble solid compound, known as a precipitate. To determine whether the product of a
precipitation reaction will be soluble or insoluble, Solubility Rules (shown below), are consulted.

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

Example of a double displacement reaction:

3AgNO3(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) → Ag3PO4(s) + 3NaNO3(aq)

The second type, a neutralization reaction, occurs when an acid and base react to form an ionic compound
(salt) and liquid water. Acid-base reactions are exothermic, so energy is released as heat upon reaction.

Example of a neutralization reaction:

H2SO3(aq) + 2 NaOH(aq) → Na2SO3(aq) + 2 H2O(l)

The third type, a gas-forming reaction, has an unstable product, which will decompose into at least one
gas as a product.

Example of a gas-forming reaction:

2 HNO3(aq) + Na2SO3(aq) → 2 NaNO3(aq) + H2O(l) + SO2(g)

In this laboratory, we are going to perform a series of chemical reactions, and record evidence of a reaction
such as the formation of gas, the formation of a precipitate, a change in color, or a change in temperature.
These reactions will then be classified as single displacement, double-displacement, neutralization, or gas-
forming. You will then the write and balance chemical equations and practice predicting the products of
the reactions introduced in this laboratory.

A lot of reactions take place in aqueous media (water), and subsequently involve ions. The balanced
equation is called the molecular equation, and is written in the usual way as the reactions above. The
reaction below will be used as an example.

BaBr2(aq) + Pb(NO3)2(aq)  Ba(NO3)2(aq) + PbBr2(s)

When ionic compounds are dissolved in water, they dissociate into their parent ions, and this equation is
referred to as the complete ionic equation. Be careful to remember that only aqueous ionic compounds
dissociate into ions – solids, liquids, and gases cannot be dissociated as they are not in solution.

Ba2+(aq) + 2Br_(aq) + Pb2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq)  Ba2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq) + PbBr2(s)

When two identical chemical species are on each side of the equation they are known as spectator ions,
and can be eliminated from the equation. The equation that remains after the spectator ions have been
removed and is referred to as the net ionic equation.

Ba2+(aq) + 2Br_(aq) + Pb2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq)  Ba2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq) + PbBr2(s)

2Br_(aq) + Pb2+(aq)  PbBr2(s)

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

PROCEDURE:
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1. You may want to refer to your prelab for the formulas of each reactant.
2. For the reactions involving solid reactants, use large test tubes and place in a beaker to observe the
reaction. For reactions involving solutions, use small (10 mL) test tubes and the red test tube racks
from the “151 Cart.”. Use test tubes that are clean and rinsed with distilled water. It is not necessary
for the test tubes to be dry.
3. When using solutions, use approximately 1.5 mL of each solution. When mixing two solutions,
there should be a total of 3 mL, which is indicated by red tape on a sample test tube by the fume
hood.
4. When using metals, use 1 piece of the copper and magnesium metal and 2 pieces of zinc, putting
the metal in the test tube, then put the solution in the test tube. The metal should be fully immersed
in solution.
5. Perform the reactions below, record your observations in the table below, specify the type of
reaction that was completed, and write the balanced molecular equation.

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 Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

DATA:

Reactants Observation(s) Type of Reaction Balanced Molecular Equation

aqueous barium
A white solid forms after the
chloride + aqueous Precipitation Reaction BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → BaSO4(s) + 2 NaCl(aq)
solutions are mixed together.
sodium sulfate

Bubbles are observed after the

solutions are mixed together. The
zinc metal +
zinc appears to be smaller in size.
hydrochloric acid

aqueous sodium
A solid forms after the solutions
phosphate + aqueous
are mixed together.
copper(II) sulfate

copper metal + After the solution is added to the

aqueous silver nitrate copper, the copper turns black and
pieces of it are following off.

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 Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

Solid sodium When acetic acid is poured on the

bicarbonate + solid, bubbles are formed, and the
aqueous acetic acid solution looks frothy.

aqueous nickel(II) A solid forms after the solutions

nitrate + aqueous are mixed together.
sodium hydroxide

aqueous potassium
A solid forms after the solutions
chloride + aqueous
are mixed together.
silver nitrate

aqueous hydrochloric
A clear solution is observed after
acid + aqueous
the solutions are mixed together.
sodium hydroxide

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 Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

aqueous sodium A solid forms after the solutions

carbonate + aqueous are mixed together.
cobalt(II) nitrate

The zinc metal looks as if it is

zinc metal + aqueous
corroding when the solution is
lead(II) nitrate
added.

magnesium metal + When the solution is added,

aqueous acetic acid bubbles form around/on the metal.

aqueous iron(III)
A yellow solid forms after the
chloride + aqueous
solutions are mixed together.
ammonium
hydroxide

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

POST-LABORATORY QUESTIONS

1. For the following reactions, write the balanced molecular equation, complete ionic equation, and net
ionic equation.

a) barium chloride(aq) + sodium sulfate(aq) →

Balanced Molecular Equation:

Complete Ionic Equation:

Net Ionic Equation:

b) nitric acid(aq) + sodium hydroxide(aq) →

Balanced Molecular Equation:

Complete Ionic Equation:

Net Ionic Equation:

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

PRE-LABORATORY ASSIGNMENT

1. What are the three observations that a chemical reaction has occurred?

2. What are the types of reactions we are performing in this laboratory? Describe them in detail.

3. Write the general reactions for single and double displacement reactions.

4. You will be using the reactants below in this lab. Write the chemical formula for each name.

Chemical Formula Name Chemical Formula Name

Barium chloride BaCl2 Potassium chloride

Sodium sulfate Cobalt(II) nitrate

Hydrochloric acid Sodium carbonate

Sodium phosphate Lead(II) nitrate

Copper(II) sulfate Sodium chloride

Silver nitrate Potassium nitrate

Acetic acid Iron(III) chloride

Nickel(II) nitrate Ammonium hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide Sodium bicarbonate

Zinc nitrate

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Chemistry 151 Week 7 – Chemical Reactions
College of the Canyons Fall 2020

5. Translate the following word equations into balanced chemical equations.

a) copper(s) + silver nitrate(aq) → copper(II) nitrate + silver(s)

b) calcium(s) + water(l) → calcium hydroxide(s) + hydrogen(g)

c) aluminum nitrate(aq) + potassium carbonate(aq) → aluminum carbonate(s) + potassium nitrate(aq)

d) sulfuric acid(aq) + potassium hydroxide(aq) → potassium sulfate(aq) + water(l)

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