Lesson 5: Chemical Reaction and Its Equation

Atoms interact with each other during a chemical reaction to form various compounds. The
chemist’s symbolic representation of the course of chemical reaction that occur in a
chemical system is known as chemical equation. This constitutes the reactants – found at
the side of the equation and the products – found at the right side of the equation. The
reactant is composed of chemical substances that undergo transformation while the
products are the resulting chemical substances during the transformation of the reactants.
In order to describe correctly the amount of reactants involved and the amount of products
produced during the reaction, the chemical equation should be balanced.
The components of chemical equations include:
a. Chemical symbols – represent the nucleus of the atoms involved during chemical
transformation.
b. Arrow (→) – separates the reactant side from the product side. The head of the
arrow indicates the direction of the products of the reaction.
1. If the symbol is →, this indicates that the reaction is irreversible.
2. If the symbol is , this indicates that the reaction is reversible. This means
that the reactants can be ref
3. ormed during a backward reaction.
c. Symbols like:
1. s – solid state
2. l – liquid state
3. g – gaseous state
4. aq – aqueous
5. ↓- precipitate formed in the process
6. ↑- gas is evolved in the process

Types of Chemical Reaction

1. Combination or Synthesis – two or more chemical substances react together to
form a single product.
General Formula:
a. A + B → AB
Example: 4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3 (Balanced Chemical Equation)
b. A+ + BC- → ABC
Example: Na+ + NO2- → NaNO2 (Equation is balanced)
c. AB+ + C- → ABC
Example: NH4+ + Cl- → NH4Cl (Equation is balanced)
d. AB+ + CD- → ABCD
Example: 2NH4+ + SO42- → (NH4)2SO4 (Equation is balanced)
2. Decomposition or Analysis – a single reactant breaks into several products.
General Formula
a. AB A + B
Example: 2H2O 2H2 + O2 (Equation is balanced)
Electrolysis – the process whereby water is decomposed to its components
through the action of electricity.
b. ABC A+ + BC-
Example: KClO3 K+ + ClO3- (Equation is balanced)
3. Single displacement – a more active element displaces a less active element in a
compound. Activity of element is based on the activity series of metals.
Activity Series of metals:

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Mnemonic to help you memorize the chart on activity series:
Please Stop Calling Me A Careless Zebra Instead Try Learning How Copper Saves
Gold and Platinum
General Formula:
a. A + BC → AC + B (A is more active than B)
b. AB + C → A + CB (C is more active than A)
Example: Fe2O3 + 3Ca → 3CaO + 2Fe (Equation is balanced)

4. Double displacement - otherwise known as metathesis. It occurs when parts of the

two ionic compounds exchange forming two new compounds.
General Formula: AB + CD → AD + CB or

Illustration:
Examples:
Na2SO4 + KCl → NaCl + K 2SO4 unbalanced equation
Na2SO4 + 2 KCl → 2 NaCl + K2SO4 balanced eq.
Al2(C2O4)3 + BaS → Al2S3 + BaC2O4 unbalanced eq.
Al2(C2O4)3 + 3 BaS → Al2S3 + 3 BaC2O4 balanced eq.
Fe2(SO4)3 + Na2Cr2O7 → Fe2(Cr2O7)3 + Na2SO4 unbalanced eq.
Fe2(SO4)3 + 3Na2Cr2O7 → Fe2(Cr2O7)3 + 3Na2SO4 balanced eq.

There are other types of chemical reaction that may be categorized under the types of
chemical reactions discussed above. These includes oxidation reaction and neutralization
reaction.
Oxidation reaction – a type of chemical that incudes Oxygen as reactants forming carbon
dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) only as products.
Example:
1. C2H5OH + O2 → CO2 + H2O
C2H5OH + 3O2 → 2CO2 + 3H2O
2. C3H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O
C3H6 + 9/2O2 → 3CO2 + 3H2O
but fraction is not allowed to balance the equation, so multiply the coefficients in the
equation with the denominator of the fraction to make it a whole number.
Therefore, this becomes:
[C3H6 + 9/2O2 → 3CO2 + 3H2O]2 to make it
2C3H6 + 9O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O balanced eq.

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Neutralization reaction – a chemical reaction that involves the reaction of an acid and a
base to produce salt and water only as products.
Example:
1. NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O
2NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O balanced eq.
2. H3PO4 + Al(OH)3 → AlPO4 + H2O
H3PO4 + Al(OH)3 → AlPO4 + 3H2O balanced eq.

Try the following Exercises:

1) ____ Na3PO4 + ____ KOH  ____ NaOH + ____ K3PO4
2) ____ MgF2 + ____ Li2CO3  ____ MgCO3 + ____ LiF
3) ____ P4 + ____ O2  ____ P2O3
4) ____ RbNO3 + ____ BeF2  ____ Be(NO3)2 + ____ RbF
5) ____ AgNO3 + ____ Cu  ____ Cu(NO3)2 + ____ Ag
6) ____ CF4 + ____ Br2  ____ CBr4 + ____ F2
7) ____ HCN + ____ CuSO4  ____ H2SO4 + ____ Cu(CN)2
8) ____ GaF3 + ____ Cs  ____ CsF + ____ Ga
9) ____ BaS + ____ PtF2  ____ BaF2 + ____ PtS
10) ____ N2 + ____ H2  ____ NH3
11) ____ NaF + ____ Br2  ____ NaBr + ____ F2
12) ____ Pb(OH)2 + ____ HCl  ____ H2O + ____ PbCl2
13) ____ AlBr3 + ____ K2SO4  ____ KBr + ____ Al2(SO4)3
14) ____ CH4 + ____ O2  ____ CO2 + ____ H2O
15) ____ Na3PO4 + ____ CaCl2  ____ NaCl + ____ Ca3(PO4)2
16) ____ K + ____ Cl2  ____ KCl
17) ____ Al + ____ HCl  ____ H2 + ____ AlCl3
18) ____ N2 + ____ F2  ____ NF3
19) ____ SO2 + ____ Li2Se  ____ SSe2 + ____ Li2O
20) ____ NH3 + ____ H2SO4  ____ (NH4)2SO4

Try the following Exercises:

1) Na3PO4 + 3KOH  3NaOH + K3PO4
2) MgF2 + Li2CO3  MgCO3 + 2LiF
3) P4 + 3O2  2P2O3
4) 2RbNO3 + BeF2  Be(NO3)2 + 2RbF
5) 2AgNO3 + Cu  Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag
6) CF4 + 2Br2  CBr4 + 2F2
7) 2HCN + CuSO4  H2SO4 + Cu(CN)2
8) GaF3 + 3Cs  3CsF + Ga
9) BaS + PtF2  BaF2 + PtS
10) N2 + 3H2  2NH3
11) 2NaF + Br2  2NaBr + F2
12) Pb(OH)2 + 2HCl  2H2O + PbCl2
13) 2AlBr3 + 3K2SO4  6KBr + Al2(SO4)3
14) CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
15) 2Na3PO4 + 3CaCl2  6NaCl + Ca3(PO4)2
16) 2K + Cl2  2KCl
17) 2Al + 6HCl  3H2 + 2AlCl3
18) N2 + 3F2  2NF3
19) SO2 + 2Li2Se  SSe2 + 2Li2O

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20) 2NH3 + H2SO4  (NH4)2SO4
Oxidation Reduction (Redox) Reaction
Redox (oxidation-reduction) reactions include all chemical reactions in which atoms have
their oxidation states changed. Oxidation is the reaction that involves loss of electrons—or
the increase in oxidation state—by a molecule, atom, or ion. Reduction is the gain of
electrons—or the decrease in oxidation state—by a molecule, atom, or ion. To remember
this, think that LEO the lion says GER (Loss of Electrons is Oxidation; Gain of Electrons
is Reduction). The two species that exchange electrons in a redox reaction are given
special names. The ion or molecule that accepts electrons (reduced) is called the oxidizing
agent; by accepting electrons it causes the oxidation of another species. Conversely, the
species that donates electrons (oxidized) is called the reducing agent; when the reaction
occurs, it reduces the other species. In other words, what is oxidized is the reducing agent
and what is reduced is the oxidizing agent.

Rules to balance simple redox equations:

1. Assign the oxidation state of the different elements which ae involved in the redox
reaction to determine the substances that are oxidized and reduced.
Rules for Assigning Oxidation States
a. The oxidation state of an individual atom is 0.
b. The total oxidation state of all atoms in: a neutral species is 0 and in an ion is
equal to the ion charge.
c. Group 1 metals have an oxidation state of +1 and Group 2 an oxidation state of
+2
d. The oxidation state of fluorine is -1 in compounds
e. Hydrogen generally has an oxidation state of +1 in compounds
f. Oxygen generally has an oxidation state of -2 in compounds
g. In binary metal compounds, Group 17 elements have an oxidation state of -1,
Group 16 elements of -2, and Group 15 elements of -3.
2. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions for the species that is reduced or
oxidized.
3. Multiply the half-reactions by the appropriate number so that they have equal
numbers of electrons.
4. Add the two equations to cancel out the electrons. The equation should be balanced.
A. Balancing Redox Reaction Using Half – reaction method:
1. Balance the following:
Al(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Al3+(aq) + Cu(s)

B. Balancing simple redox Reactions

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 Balance the following Reaction:
Mg(s) + Fe2(SO4)3(aq) → Fe(s) + MgSO4(aq)

C. Balancing Complex Redox Reaction

Balance the following:
Cu + HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + NO2 + H2 O

Rules:
1. Identify the elements that are oxidized and reduced by examining their Oxidation states
2. Write the oxidation and reduction half-reactions and Balance Half Reaction Equations.
In an acid solution, use H+ and H2O to balance the charges and other atoms. In a basic
solution, use OH- and H2O to balance the charges and other atoms.
3. Add the two half-reactions algebraically such that the electrons in the two half-reaction
equations cancel completely. Cancel other species such as H+, OH-, and H2O common
to the two sides, if necessary.
4. Check your equation and make certain that numbers of atoms and charge are equal on
both sides.

Balancing Complex Redox Reaction

Balance the following:
Cu(s) + HNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + NO(g) + H2O(l)

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Balancing Redox Reaction in Basic Medium
Balance the following reaction in basic medium:
Cr (O H)3 + Br2 Cr O42- + Br- in basic solution

Balancing Redox Reaction in Basic Medium

Balance the following:
HCOOH + MnO4- CO2 + Mn2+ in acidic solution

Try this:
Assign the oxidation state of each of the elements involved in the reaction. Determine the
oxidized, reduced, oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the reaction and also the
number of electrons which are lose and gained during the reaction. Lastly, balance the
reaction.
1. O2 + Sb H2O2 + SbO2- in basic solution
2. ClO2- ClO2 + Cl- in acidic solution
3. NiO2 + Fe Ni(OH)2 + Fe(OH)2 in basic solution
4. CO2 + NH2OH CO + N2 in basic solution
5. H2O2 + Fe2+ Fe3+ + H2O in acidic solution
6. MnO4- + SO2 Mn2+ + HSO4- in acidic solution
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