Notes Chapter 10:

Chemical Reactions:
Evidence for a Chemical Reaction
1. The color changes.
2. A solid forms.
3. Bubbles form.
4. Heat and/or a flame is
produced.
5. Heat is absorbed.

B
Bu ubbb
blleess ooff A
Ab bllu
uee ffllaam mee
h
hyyddrrooggeen n aannd d aappp peeaarrss w whheen n
o
oxxyyggeen ng gaass ffoorrm m mmeetth haannee g gaass
w
wh heenn aann eelleeccttrriicc rreeaaccttss w wiitth
h
ccuurrrreen
ntt iiss u
usseed d o
oxxyyg geen n.. T Thhiiss
tto
od deeccoom mp po
ossee iiss ccaalllleed
d
w
waatteerr C
CO OM MBBUUS STTIIOONN,,
AA yyeellllo
oww ssoolliidd o
orr b bu urrnniinngg
P
PRREECCIIP
PIITTA
ATTEE ffo
orrm
mss w wh heenn aa
ssooddiiu
ummd diicch
hrroom
maattee sso olln
n.. iiss
aaddddeedd ttoo aa lleeaad
dn niittrraattee sso
ollnn..

H
Hoott P
Paacckkss &
&CCo
olld
dPPaacckkss

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 1 of 13

 Chemical Equations

Now that you know how to use the valences of

ions to write the formulas for compounds, let’s
use these formulas to write chemical equations.

Chemical equations are chemical statements

showing how atoms are rearranged during a
chemical reaction. Let’s use the burning of
natural gas (methane) with oxygen.
M
Meetth
haan
nee C
Caarrb
bo onn WWaatteerr
g
gaass O
Oxxyyg
geen
n d
diio
oxxiid
dee vvaap
poorr
CH44 + O22  CO22 + H22O
Reactants TTh hee Products
aarrrrooww
TTh hee eelleemmeen nttss aan ndd TTh
hee eelleem meen nttss aan ndd
m
meeaan nss
cco om mp poouun nddss o onn tthhee ccoom
mp po ouun nddss o on n tthhee
““yyiieelld
dss””
lleefftt ssiid
dee ooff tth
hee aarrrro ow
w rriig
gh htt ssiiddee o off tth
hee
o
orr
aarree tth hee rreeaaccttaannttss.. aarrrro
ow w aarree tth hee
““ffo
orrm mss””..
TTh heeyy aarree tthhee p
prro
oddu uccttss.. T Th heeyy aarree
ssu ub bssttaanncceess u usseed du up
p tthhee ssu ub bssttaanncceess
iinn tthhee rreeaaccttiio
on n.. ffoorrmmeed d iinn tthhee
rreeaaccttiio
onn..

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 2 of 13

 The Law of Conservation of Matter
We’ve all heard the statement ‘Matter cannot be
created or destroyed’. It is during chemical
reactions where it really applies.

During chemical reactions, atoms are rearranged

into different groups. Therefore all the atoms
must be accounted for. We cannot have more
atoms on one side of the equation than on the
other side. A ball-and-stick model can illustrate
this idea.

CH44 + O22  CO22 + H22O

Can you see a problem? We have a total of 4

hydrogen atoms on the left side but only two
atoms of hydrogen on the right! What happened
to the other two?
We have two atoms of oxygen on the left side
but three atoms of oxygen on the right! Where
did this atom come from?

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 3 of 13

 Balancing Chemical Equations
To resolve this dilemma we add molecules. We
cannot change the subscripts because that would
change the substances and we would not have the
same chemical reaction. So, we add molecules.

We show this in the chemical equations by putting

large numbers in front of the formulas. These
numbers are called coefficients and tell how many
molecules you have.

CH44 + 2 O22  CO22 + 2 H22O

Now, we have:
1 carbon atom on the left and 1 on the right,
4 hydrogen atoms on the left and 4 on the right,
4 oxygen atoms on the left and 4 on the right.

The equation is now balanced. We can account for

all the atoms and nature is happy again.

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 4 of 13

 Let’s See If You Can Write A Chemical
Equation:
Potassium metal will react with water to produce
a potassium hydroxide solution and hydrogen
gas. Write the unbalanced chemical equation
for this reaction.
P P
Poottaassssiiuum m
Poottaassssiiuum
m H
Hyyddrrooggeenn
m hhyyddrrooxxiiddee
meettaall W
Waatteerr ggaass ssoolluuttiioonn
K((ss)) + H22O((ll))  H22 ((gg)) + KOH ((aaqq))

Did you remember that hydrogen is one of the

diatomic elements? (H, N, O, Halogen)
Although you do not have to write these
symbols for now, you should know that
s = solid, l = liquid, g = gas, and
aq = aqueous solution (dissolved in water)

P
Poottaassssiiuum mm meettaall iiss K
A
A bbeeaakkeerr KO OH H iiss tthhee cclloouuddyy
ssttoorreedd iinn m miinneerraall ooiill ssoollnn.. TThhee H
ooff w
waatteerr H22 ggaass ccaann
ffoorr ssaaffeettyy.. bbuurrnn w wiitthh tthhee OO22 iinn aaiirr

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 5 of 13

 Now Let’s Balance the Equation

Spink’s Law: Once you have written the

formulas in the chemical equation correctly,
never, ever, ever change the subscripts!
To balance the equation you count atoms and
add coefficients.
K + H22O  H22 + KOH
How many potassiums enter the reaction? 1
How many come out of the reaction? 1

How many hydrogens enter the reaction? 2

How many come out of the reaction? 3
Spink’s Handy Hint: When you have an even
number of atoms on one side and an odd
number on the other side, make the odd one
even by placing a 2 as a coefficient.
K + H22O  H22 + 2 KOH
We now have two hydrogens on the left and four
on the right. We must put a 2 in front of the H22O.
K + 2 H22O  H22 + 2 KOH

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 6 of 13

 OK, now we have four hydrogens on each side,
but we have changed the number of
potassiums. We have one K on the left and two
on the right. We must put a 2 in front of the K.
2K + 2 H22O  H22 + 2 KOH
Now the equation is balanced:
We have two K’s on the left and two on the right,
we have four H’s on the left and four on the right,
we have two O’s on the left and two on the right.
Nothing could be simpler!

First, write the unbalanced chemical equation.

Use the valences to write the formulas correctly.
Remember the diatomic elements:
H22, N22, O22, and the halogens, F22, Cl22, Br22, I22

Remember to use parentheses ONLY when you

have two or more polyatomic ions:
Mg33(PO44)22 and Ca(OH)22

Then, Spink’s Law: Once you have written the

formulas in the chemical equation correctly,
never, ever, ever change the subscripts!

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 7 of 13

 Then, count atoms and use coefficients to
balance the equation.

Spink’s Handy Hint ##1: When you have an even

number of atoms on one side and an odd
number on the other side, make the odd one
even by placing a 2 as a coefficient.

Spink’s Handy Hint ##2: When an element

appears in two molecules on the same side of
the equation, balance it LAST.

Spink’s Handy Hint ##3: When you have two

atoms of an element on one side of the equation
and three on the other, turn them into 6’s.

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 8 of 13

 Types of Chemical Reactions
Decomposition Reaction
This type of reaction occurs when a
compound is broken apart into two
or more smaller elements and/or
compounds.
2 H22O  2 H22 + O22

Synthesis Reaction
This type of reaction occurs when a compound
is produced, or synthesized from two or more
smaller elements and/or compounds.
2 Na + Cl22  2 NaCl

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 9 of 13

 Single Displacement Reaction
This type of reaction occurs between an
element and a compound. The element
displaces the ion of like charge and
bonds with the ion of opposite charge.
Cu + 2 AgNO33  Cu(NO33)22 + 2 Ag

Double Displacement
Reaction
This type of reaction occurs
between two compounds as they
exchange each other’s ions.
K22CrO44 + Pb(NO33)22 
PbCrO44 + 2 KNO33

Combustion Reaction
The burning of any hydrocarbon
always produces the same two
products – carbon dioxide and water
vapor.
CH44 + O22  CO22 + 2 H22O
Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 10 of 13
 Predicting The Products
It’s easy to predict the products of single and
double displacement reactions.
With single displacement reactions, the element
always displaces the ion of the same charge.
Ag + Cu(NO33)22 
When silver becomes an ion, its valence is +1.
So silver displaces the copper which has a +2
valence, and will match with the nitrate which has a
–1 valence to form AgNO33. Remember, silver is +1
and nitrate is –1. Copper will form as an element.
2 Ag + Cu(NO33)22  Cu + 2 AgNO33

What about:
Cl22 + CuBr22 
When chlorine becomes an ion, its valence is –1.
So it will displace the bromide which has a –1
valence, and will match with the copper which has
a +2 valence to form CuCl22 . The bromide will form
the element Br22. Remember, both chlorine and
bromine are halogens, so they are diatomic as
elements.
Cl22 + CuBr22  CuCl22 + Br22

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 11 of 13

 Predicting double displacement reactions is even
easier. They just swap mates. Just make sure you
match a + valence with a – valence writing the
+ valence ion first.
HgCl22 + N aI 
We first match the +2 mercury with the –1 iodide to
form HgI22. And then we match the +1 sodium with
the –1 chloride to form NaCl.
HgCl22 + 2 N aI  HgI22 + 2 NaCl

Solubility Rules
We can even predict whether the products are
soluble in water and therefore be in solution, or if
one is insoluble and come out as a PPRREECCIIPPIITTAATTEE.

In the above example, we can use the solubility

rules to predict that the HgI22 is insoluble in water
and will precipitate out of solution.

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 12 of 13

 The Solubility Rules

1. All common compounds of Group I and

ammonium ions are soluble.

2. All nitrates, acetates, and chlorates are soluble.

3. All binary compounds of the halogens (other

than F) with metals are soluble, except those of
Ag, Hg(I), and Pb. Pb halides are soluble in hot
water.)

4. All sulfates are soluble, except those of barium,

strontium, calcium, lead, silver, and mercury (I).
The latter three are slightly soluble.

5. Except for rule 1, carbonates, hydroxides,

oxides, silicates, and phosphates are insoluble.

6. Sulfides are insoluble except for calcium,

barium, strontium, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, and ammonium.

Chemistry-1 Notes Chapter 7 Page 13 of 13