TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

1. COMBINATION REACTION- a composition (direct combination) reaction takes place when two or more
elements combine to form a more complex molecule

 General equation: A+B-AB, where A and B are elements or compounds

Examples:
a. Metal and non-metal  salt
Fe (s) +S (s)  FeS(s)

b. Nonmetal oxide + water  oxyacid

SO2(g)+ H20 (l)  H2SO3 (aq)

c. Metal + oxygen  metal oxide

2Mg(s) +02 (g) 2MgO (s)

d. Metal oxide + water  metal hydroxide

Ca0 (s) + H20 (l)  Ca (OH)2 (aq)

2. DECOMPOSITION REACTION- in decomposition reaction, one substance, usually a compound, breaks down
to form two or more substances which maybe elements or compounds. Heat is usually required to complete
this reaction.

 General equation: AB A+B, where A and B are elements or compounds.

Examples:
a. 2Hg0 (s)  2Hg (l) +02(g)
b. CaCO3(s)  Ca0 (s) +CO2 (g)
C. 2NaHCO3 (s)  Na2CO3 (s) + 10 H20(g)

3. SINGLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION- in a single-displacement or substitution or replacement reaction, one

element reacts by replacing another element in a compound

 General equation: A +BC AC +B

 To determine which element will be displaced or substituted, you need to know the electromotive or
activity series. The electromotive or activity series is an arrangement Which shows that metal can
displace another metal from an aqueous solution of its slat or acid.

Examples:
a. Zn (s)+ NiSO4 (aq)  ZnS04 (aq) + Ni (s)
b. 2Na (s) +2H20 (l)  2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)
C. Cl2 + NaI  2NaCI+ I

4. DOUBLE-DISPLCEMENT OR IONIC REACTION- the positive ion of one compound exchange With the
p0sitive cation of another compound. This reaction may also be called metathesis.

 General equation: AB+CD AD +CB

Examples:
a. A salt and a base
Ca(NO3)2 (aq) +2NaOH (aq)  2NaNO3 (aq) + Ca(OH)2 (aq)

b. Two salts
2KCI (ag) +Pb (NO3)2 (aq) PbCl2 (s) +2KNO3 (aq)

c. A salt and an acid

Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) BasO4 (s) +2HNO3 (aq)

d. Metal carbonate and an acid

MgCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq)  MgCl2 (aq) + H20 (l)+CO2 (g)
Magnesium carbonate is one of the ingredients in antacids used in neutralizing the acid (HCI0) in
the stomach.

e. An acid and a base

2HCl (aq) +Mg(OH)2 (s)  MgCl2 (aq)+2H20 (l)

*Note that this reaction occurs in the stomach when milk of magnesia (Mg (OH) 2) isused as antacid,
this is known as neutralization reaction.