Types of Reactions Guided Tutorial

1. Synthesis reactions
2. Decomposition reactions
3. Single displacement reactions
4. Double displacement reactions
5. Combustion reactions

Skills you need to master:

identify each type of reaction
balance combustion reactions
predict the products for each type of reaction by looking at the reactants
Learn examples and facts of each type of reaction
 Predicting Products
Synthesis Not one of the other types of reactions…

Decomposition One reactant Break it down one step

Combustion anything + oxygen hydrocarbon + O2 CO2 + H2O

Could be synthesis

Single Replacement element + ionic compound Check activity! Ion swap

Double Replacement ionic compound + ionic compound Check solubility!

Ion swap
 1. Synthesis

Example C + O2 CO2

C + O O  O C O

General: A + B  AB
Ex. Synthesis Reaction
Synthesis Reaction
(Combination)
 How to predict Synthesis Rxn
All simple Synthesis Reactions begin with:
element + element →  In the example:   Al + O2 →

Combine the elements to make a compound.

Write the metal (element w/ a positive oxidation number) 1st & the
nonmetal (element w/ a negative oxidation number) 2nd.
AlO
Now use subscripts to make the oxidation numbers total zero. (aluminum
is +3 and oxygen is −2)
Al+3O-2 then criss cross applesauce Al2O3

The correct chemical equation is:   4Al + 3O2  → 2Al2O3

 Practice
Predict the products.

Na(s) + Cl2(g) 

Mg(s) + F2(g) 

Al(s) + F2(g) 

Synthesis: A synthesis reaction is when two

elements combine to form only one compound.
 Answers
Predict the products.

Na(s) + Cl2(g)  NaCl(s)

Mg(s) + F2(g)  MgF2(s)

Al(s) + F2(g)  AlF 3(s)

Now, balance them.

 Answers
Predict the products.

2 Na(s) + Cl2(g)  2NaCl(s)

*You should know which elements are gases at room temp

Mg(s) + F2(g)  MgF2(s)

2Al(s) + 3F2(g)  2AlF3(s)

*You should know all ionic compounds are solids at room temperature
 STOP
• Watch video of Synthesis Reaction demo
– Magnesium + heat
• Heat is written over the arrow
– Not part of reactant or product
 2. Decomposition

Example: NaCl  Na + Cl2

Cl Na  Cl + Na

General: AB  A + B
Decomposition Reaction
(Break Down)
How to predict Decomposition Rxn
All simple Decomposition Reactions begin with:
  compound →  

In the example:   H2O →

break the compound into its individual elements, H and O
H+O

When elements are ALONE in an equation, ask yourself

"are they one of the 7 diatomic molecules?"
In this case, both of the products ARE diatomic molecules.

The correct chemical equation is:   2H2O → 2H2 + O2

 Practice

B2O3 

AlCl3 

Decomposition: A decomposition reaction is

the opposite of a synthesis reaction - a
complex molecule breaks down to make 2 or
more elements/compounds.
 Answers

2B2O3  4B + 3O2

2AlCl3  2Al + 3Cl2

Decomposition: A decomposition reaction is

the opposite of a synthesis reaction – One
complex molecule breaks down to make 2 or
more elements/compounds.
Ex. Decomposition Reaction
 STOP
• Watch video of a decomposition reaction
– Hydro sulfuric acid and sugar
• Hydro sulfuric acid is a catalyst
– speeds up reaction but isn’t used up in the reaction
» Not included as a reactant or product
 3. Single Displacement
Example: Zn + CuCl2  ZnCl2 + Cu
Zn was oxidized *We will discuss oxidation later

Went from neutral (0) to (+2)

Cu  Zn
Cl Cl + Zn Cl Cl + Cu

Cu was reduced
*We will discuss reduction later
Went from (+2) to Neutral (0)

General: AB + C  AC + B
Ex. Single Replacement Reaction
Single Displacement Reaction
(1-2 Switch)
 How to predict Single Replacement Rxn
All simple Single Replacement Reactions begin with:
element + compound →

In the example:   Zn + HCl →

Zinc (with a positive oxidation number +2) will switch places with the
positive part of the compound.

 H + ZnCl

Is hydrogen a diatomic molecule? (yes, it must have a subscript of 2)   H2 + ZnCl

Use subscripts to make the oxidation # total zero. (Zn is +2 and Cl is −1)

The correct chemical equation is:   Zn + HCl → H2 + ZnCl2

 Single Replacement Reactions
Write and balance the following single replacement
reaction equation:

• NaCl(s) + F2(g) 

• Al(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)

Single Replacement: This is when one

element trades places with another element in a
compound.
 Single Replacement Reactions
Write and balance the following single replacement
reaction equation:

• NaCl(s) + F2(g)  NaF(s) + Cl2(g)

• Al(s)+ Cu(NO3)2(aq) Cu(s)+ Al(NO3)3(aq)

*For solutions we will determine what is solid and what is aqueous later
 STOP
• Watch video of Single Replacement Demo
– Copper (II) sulfate
 4. Double displacement

Example: MgO + CaS MgS + CaO

Mg Ca Mg Ca
+  +
O S S O

General: AB + CD  AD + CB
Double Replacement Reaction
(The Swingers)
 How to predict Double Replacement Rxn
All simple Double Displacement Reactions begin with:
  compound + compound →  

In the example:   FeCl3 + NH4OH →

*make your life easier by labeling charges of reactants first
– Fe is +3 while each Cl is -1 - NH 4 is +1 and OH is -1

Switch the positive parts of the two compounds.

NH4Cl + FeOH
Use subscripts to make the oxidation numbers in both compounds total zero.
– The polyatomic ion NH4 is +1, Chlorine is −1
– Fe is +3 on the left and you can assume it will remain +3 on the right
– The polyatomic ion OH is −1

The correct chemical equation is:

  FeCl3 + 3NH4OH → 3NH4Cl + Fe(OH)3
 Double Replacement Reactions
Example:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)  AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Another example:

K2SO4(aq) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)  KNO3(aq) + BaSO4(s)

Think about it like “foil”ing in algebra, first and last ions go

together + inside ions go together
 Practice-Double Replacement reactions
Predict the products.
1. HCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) 
2. CaCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) 
3. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + BaCl2(aq) 
4. FeCl3(aq) + NaOH(aq) 
5. H2SO4(aq) + NaOH(aq) 
6. KOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq) 
Double Replacement: This is when the
anions and cations of two different
molecules switch places, forming two
entirely different compounds.
 Answer-Double Replacement reactions
Predict the products.
1. HCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq)  HNO3 + AgCl
2. 3CaCl2(aq) + 2Na3PO4(aq)  Ca3(PO4)2 + 6NaCl
3. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + BaCl2(aq)  PbCl2 + Ba(NO3)2
4. FeCl3(aq) + 3NaOH(aq)  Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl
5. H2SO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq)  2H2O + Na2SO4
6. 2KOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq)  K2SO4 + Cu(OH)2
Double Replacement: This is when the
anions and cations of two different
molecules switch places, forming two
entirely different compounds.
 STOP
• Watch video of double replacement demo
– Sodium Chloride and Silver Nitrate
 5. Combustion Reactions
Combustion reactions - a
hydrocarbon reacts with
oxygen gas.
This is also called burning!!!
In order to burn something
you need the 3 things in the
“fire triangle”:

1) Fuel (hydrocarbon)
2) Oxygen
3) Something to ignite the
reaction (spark)
 Combustion Reactions
• In general:
CxHy + O2  CO2 + H2O
• Products are ALWAYS
carbon dioxide and water.
– incomplete burning does cause
some by-products like carbon
monoxide
• Combustion is used to heat
homes and run automobiles
(octane, as in gasoline, is C8H18)
 You can generally balance Combustion reactions in the order of CHO:

Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen

Combustion reactions are harder to balance than any other

Reactions.
 How to predict Combustion Rxn
 All simple Combustion Reactions begin with:
hydrocarbon + oxygen →
In the example:   C6H6 + O2 →

The products of combustion are ALWAYS

carbon dioxide and water.

The correct chemical equation is:  

2C6H6 + 15O2 → 12CO2 + 6H2O
 Practice Combustion
Example
C5H12 + O2 

Write the products and balance the following combustion reaction:

C10H22 + O2 

Combustion: A combustion reaction is when

oxygen combines with another compound to
form water and carbon dioxide. These reactions
are exothermic, meaning they produce heat.
 Answer Combustion
Example
C5H12 + 8O2  5CO2 + 6H2O

Write the products and balance the following combustion reaction:

2C10H22 + 31O2  20CO2 + 22H2O

Combustion: A combustion reaction is when

oxygen combines with another compound to
form water and carbon dioxide. These reactions
are exothermic, meaning they produce heat.
 STOP
• Watch video of combustion demo
– Ethanol (C2H5OH) + Oxygen
 Mixed Practice
State the type & predict the products.

1. BaCl2 + H2SO4 

2. C6H12 + O2 

3. Zn + CuSO4 

4. Cs + Br2 

5. FeCO3 
 Mixed Practice - Answers
State the type & predict the products.

1. BaCl2 + H2SO4 BaSO4 + 2HCl * Double-Replacement

2. C6H12 + O2  6CO2 + 6H2O *Combustion

3. Zn + CuSO4  ZnSO4 + Cu *Single Replacement

4. Cs + Br2  CsBr2 *Synthesis

5. FeCO3  Fe + CO3 *Decomposition

 EXIT TICKET
Either send me a google doc with answers or send me a picture!
1) ____ NaBr + ____ Ca(OH)2  ___ CaBr2 + ____ NaOH

Type of reaction: _____________________________

2) ____ Pb + ____ H3PO4  ____ H2 + ____ Pb3(PO4)2

 
Type of reaction: _____________________________

3) lithium nitride is mixed with ammonium nitrate.

lithium nitrate and ammonium nitride are produced.

Type of reaction: _____________________________

Balanced Reaction: ____________________________