EXPERIMENT 2: Types of Chemical Reactions

A. Direct Union/Synthesis or Combination

A1. Oxidation of Iron

1. Put a pinch of iron filings in deflagrating spoon and heat over a non-luminous flame for two
minutes. Remove from the flame and compare the color of the iron fillings before and after
heating.

A2. Reaction of Calcium Oxide and water

1. Put a pea-sized amount of calcium oxide in a beaker.
2. Slowly add 10 mL water to the calcium oxide in the beaker and stir.
3. Check the relative pH of the solution using blue and red litmus paper.

B. Decomposition

B1. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

1. Put 1 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a watch glass.
2. Add a pinch of yeast to the solution. Mix the solution.
3. Observe the reaction formed.

B2. Decomposition of cupric sulfate pentahydrate

1. Put a pea-sized amount of solid cupric sulfate pentahydrate crystals in a test tube.
2. Heat the test tube over a non-luminous flame at a 45 angle. Move the test tube back and forth
while heating.
3. Compare the color of the crystals before and after heating and observe what appeared on the
upper portion of the test tube.

C. Single Displacement

1. Place a pinch of iron filings in a test tube containing 3 mL of 6 M HCl. Set aside for 10 minutes
and observe the reaction.
2. Place a small piece of mossy zinc in the test tube containing 3 mL 1 M CuSO4 solution. Set aside
for about 10 minutes and observe the reaction.
3. Represent each reaction with an equation. Refer to the activity series of metals and non-metals
to predict which active metal/non-metal replaced the less active component.

Activity Series of Metals and Hydrogen

Most Reactive → Least Reactive
Li, Rb, K, Cs, Ba, Sr, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Zn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Sn, Pb, H, Cu, Hg, Ag, Pt, Au

Activity Series of Nonmetals

Most Reactive → Least Reactive
F, Cl, Br = O, I, S
D. Double Displacement

1. Put drops 1 M CaCl2 in a test tube and add 5 drops 1 M CuSO4 solution. Observe if a reaction
occurred and note for any change.
2. Put 5 drops 0.1 M NaCl in a test tube and add 5 drops 0.1 M Cu(NO3)2 solution. Observe if a
reaction occurred and note for any change.
3. Put 5 drops 1 M AgNO3 in a test tube and add 5 drops 0.1 M KI. Observe if a reaction occurred
and note for any change.
4. Represent each reaction with an equation. Refer to the table of solubility rules and identify which
of the products formed a precipitate.
 Name:
Report: Types of Course/Section/Group:
Experiment Chemical
2 Reactions Instructor/s:

DATA AND RESULTS:

A. Combination Reaction:

Reactants Evidence of Chemical Chemical Equation

Reactions

Iron fillings and oxygen

Calcium oxide and water

Reactants Red litmus paper Blue litmus paper

Calcium oxide and water

B. Decomposition Reaction

Reactants Evidence of Chemical Chemical Equation

Reactions

Enzymatic breakdown of
hydrogen peroxide

Heating of cupric sulfate

pentahydrate
 C. Single Displacement Reaction

Reactants Evidence of Chemical Chemical Equation

Reactions

Iron and hydrochloric acid

Zinc and cupric sulfate

D. Double Replacement Reaction

Reactants Evidence of Chemical Chemical Equation (Refer to

Reactions solubility rules)

CaCl2 + CuSO4

NaCl + Cu(NO3)2

AgNO3 + KI
QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH:

1. Describe the reaction that occurred when calcium oxide reacted with water and the pH of the resulting
solution.

2. What is present in yeast that enabled the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide? What were the
products formed in the reaction?

3. Identify and describe the substance left on the cooler portion of the test tube after heating cupric
sulfate pentahydrate?

4. What is the chemical name of the new products formed in the reaction between iron fillings and
hydrochloric acid? Explain the reaction based on the activity series of metals?

5. What happened when calcium chloride was added to cupric sulfate? What were the products formed
and what was the evidence for the presence of these products?