UNIT 6 - CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this unit, you should be able to

● 6.1 Identify the reactants and products in reaction equations

● 6.2 Differentiate between the terms exothermic and endothermic
● 6.3 Write reaction equations for exothermic and endothermic reactions
● 6.4 Balance reaction equations
● 6.5 Write balanced chemical reaction equations from word equations and vice versa
● 6.6 Classify reactions as combination, decomposition, single replacement or double
replacement
● 6.7 Define the terms oxidation and reduction
● 6.8 Assign oxidation numbers to elements in chemical formulas
● 6.9 Classify reactions as redox or non redox
Chemical and Physical Changes
● Recall that matter can undergo physical changes and chemical changes

● Physical changes are changes in matter that do NOT alter the chemical
composition of the substance.

Examples
Dissolving
sugar in water

Snow melting
Chemical and Physical Changes
● Chemical changes in matter that involve the change in the chemical
composition of matter

● All chemical reactions are examples of chemical changes

Dissolving Burning sodium

calcium in water bicarbonate
Evidence of a Chemical Reaction
● Chemical reactions involve the change of one substance to another

● Evidence that a chemical reaction has taken place includes

1. Formation of gas
2. Heat released
3. Change in color
4. Formation of a precipitate
Evidence of a Chemical Reaction
● Chemical reactions involve the change of one substance to another

● Evidence that a chemical reaction has taken place includes

1. Formation of gas → dissolving calcium in water

2. Heat released → burning sodium bicarbonate
3. Change in color
4. Formation of a precipitate
Evidence of a Chemical Reaction
Color change

Avocados change color

from green to brown in
the presence of oxygen

Precipitate formation
Chemical Equations
● Chemical reactions involve the conversion of reactants (R) into products (P)

R P

● Photosynthesis is an example of a chemical reaction

6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Reactants Products
Chemical Equations

● The coefficients in a chemical equation represent how many molecules are

present

● Consider the combustion of methane (CH4)

CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O

1 molecule of CH4 reacts
with 2 molecules of O2 to
produce 1 molecule of CO2
and 2 molecules of H2O
Conservation of Mass
● Coefficients are included to ensure that the mass of the reactants is equal to
the mass of the products.

● Law of conservation of mass - mass cannot be created or destroyed in a

chemical reaction
Balancing Chemical Equations
● Mass is conserved when the number of atoms in the reactant equals the
number of atoms in the products.

● The total number of C, H, and O atoms is the same in the reactants and
products
Balancing Chemical Equations
● Balancing chemical equations means placing coefficients in front of molecules
to ensure the total number atoms are equal on both sides.

● Guidelines for Balancing Chemical Equations

1. Write down the reaction equation with reactants and products

2. Write down the number of atoms for each element on both sides of the
equation
3. Add coefficients to balance equation (start with metals first)
4. Balance all atoms other than oxygen and hydrogen first
5. Count atoms to check that equation is balanced
Balancing Chemical Equations - Example
Balance the chemical equation:

Fe + O2 Fe2O3

Fe = 1 Fe = 2

O=2 O=3

● We want to balance iron before oxygen

Balancing Chemical Equations - Example
● Place a coefficient of ‘2’ in front of iron in the reactants

2 Fe + O2 Fe2O3

● To balance oxygen, place a coefficient of ‘3’ in front O2 and ‘2’ in front of Fe2O3

2 Fe + 3 O2 2 Fe2O3

● Oxygen is balanced now but Iron is not now.

Balancing Chemical Equations - Example
4 2 Fe + 3 O2 2 Fe2O3

● Now check to make sure the equation is balanced by counting the atoms

Fe: 4 Fe: 4

O: 6 O: 6

● Equation is balanced. The balanced chemical equation is

4 Fe + 3 O2 2 Fe2O3
Balancing Chemical Equations - Practice
Balance the following chemical equations. The answers are on the next slide. Try
to balance them yourself and then check the answers.

1. H2S + SO2 H2O + S

2. Al + H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + H2

3. MnO2 + HCl MnCl2 + H2O +Cl2

Balancing Chemical Equations - Practice
Balance the following chemical equations

1. 2 H2S + SO2 2 H2O + 3 S

2. 2 Al + 3 H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + 3 H2

3. MnO2 + 4 HCl MnCl2 + 2 H2O +Cl2

Phase Symbols
● Recall that matter can exist in three states; gas, liquid, and solid

● The phase of matter is represented using phase symbols (s - solid, l - liquid,

g - gas)

● Consider the combustion of methane (CH4):

CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)

Aqueous Solutions
● A solution in which particles are dissolved in water is called
an aqueous solution

● The compounds and ions dissolved in water are represented

with the phase symbol, aq

● As an example, consider the dissociation of sodium chloride

in water:
NaCl(s) Na(aq) + Cl(aq)
Endothermic vs Exothermic Reactions
● Chemical reactions involve changes in energy in addition to changes in matter

● Endothermic reactions require heat for the reaction to occur

● Cooking an egg is an example of an endothermic reaction

Endothermic vs Exothermic Reactions
● Chemical reactions involve changes in energy in addition to changes in matter

● Exothermic reactions release heat for the reaction to occur

● The combustion of propane in a bbq is an example of an exothermic reaction

Endothermic vs Exothermic Chemical Equations

● Endothermic and exothermic reactions are represented by different chemical

equations.

● In an endothermic reaction, energy in the form of heat is added to the

reaction:

NH4NO3(s) + heat NH4+(aq) + NO3-(aq)

Heat is included on
the reactant side of
the equation
Endothermic vs Exothermic Chemical Equations

● Endothermic and exothermic reactions are represented by different chemical

equations.

● In an exothermic reaction, energy in the form of heat is released in the

reaction:

CaCl2(s) + 2H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(aq) + 2 HCl(g) + heat

Heat is included on
the product side of
the equation
Endothermic vs Exothermic Chemical Equations
Consider the chemical equation for photosynthesis below:

6 CO2(g) + 6 H2O(lg) + heat C6H12O6(s) + 6 O2(g)

Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic?

Endothermic vs Exothermic Chemical Equations
Consider the chemical equation for photosynthesis below:

6 CO2(g) + 6 H2O(lg) + heat C6H12O6(s) + 6 O2(g)

Is this reaction endothermic or exothermic?

Endothermic
Word Equations
● Chemical reactions can also be represented using word equations

● A word equation is a description of a chemical reaction in terms of the

reactants, products, phases, and energy involved using sentences.

● An important learning outcome is to be write chemical reactions from word

equations and vice versa
Word Equations - Example

Solid copper metal reacts with oxygen gas to form solid copper (II) oxide. Write a
balanced chemical equation for this word problem.

2 Cu(s) + O2(g) 2 CuO(s)

Word Equations - Practice Problems
Write balance chemical equations from the following word equations.

1. Solid aluminum reacts with solid iron (III) oxide to form solid aluminum oxide
and iron metal.

2. The combustion of methane gas (CH4) in the presence of oxygen gas forms
carbon dioxide gas and water vapour.

3. When heated, solid calcium carbonate breaks down into solid calcium oxide
and carbon dioxide gas.
Word Equations - Practice Problems
Write balance chemical equations from the following word equations.

1. Solid aluminum reacts with solid iron (III) oxide to form solid aluminum oxide
and iron metal. 2 Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) -> Al2O3(s) + 2 Fe(s)

2. The combustion of methane gas (CH4) in the presence of oxygen gas forms
carbon dioxide gas and water vapour.

CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) -> CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g) + heat

3. When heated, solid calcium carbonate breaks down into solid calcium oxide
and carbon dioxide gas. CaCO3(s) + heat -> CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Classifying Chemical Reactions
Redox Reactions
● A redox reaction is a type of chemical reaction 2 Na(s) + Cl2(g) 2 NaCl(s)
that involves the transfer of electrons from one
reactant to another

● We have previously encountered redox reactions

● Electrons are transferred whenever a metal

reacts with a non-metal (e.g. NaCl formation)
NaCl salt

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Redox Reactions

● The formation of rust is also an example of a

redox reaction

● Iron (III) oxide is formed from the reaction of

iron metal and oxygen:

4 Fe(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Fe2O3(s)

Iron (III) oxide rust formation on a car

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Redox Reactions

● Iron loses electrons and is oxidized

Fe Fe3+ + 3e-

● Oxygen gains electrons and is reduced

O2 + 4e- 2 O2-
● Fe2O3 is formed from Fe3+ and O2- Iron (III) oxide rust formation on a car

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Redox Reactions
● The loss of electrons is oxidation (LEO) and the gain of electrons is
reduction (GER)

● Oxidation corresponds to an increase in oxidation number whereas

reduction is a decrease in oxidation number

0 -2
0 +3

4 Fe(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Fe2O3(s) 34

Redox Reactions

LEO the LION

says GER

Loss of Electrons is Oxidation

Gain of Electrons is Reduction

Oxidation Numbers
● An oxidation number describes how many electrons have been
gained or lost by an atom

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

1. An atom in its elemental state has an oxidation number of 0.

Na H2 Br2 S Ne

Oxidation number 0
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Oxidation Numbers
2. An atom in a monatomic ion has an oxidation number equal to its charge

Na+ Ca2+ Al3+ Cl¯

O2 ¯

+1 +2 +3 –1 –2

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Oxidation Numbers
3. An atom in a polyatomic ion or in a compound usually has the same oxidation
number it would have if it were a monatomic ion

a) Hydrogen can be either +1 or -1

1–
H O H Ca H

+1 –2 –1 +2 –1

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Oxidation Numbers
3. An atom in a polyatomic ion or in a compound usually has the same oxidation
number it would have if it were a monatomic ion

b) Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2

H O H H O O H

+1 –2 +1 +1 –1 –1 +1

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Oxidation Numbers
3. An atom in a polyatomic ion or in a compound usually has the same oxidation
number it would have if it were a monatomic ion

c) Halogens usually have an oxidation number of -1

H Cl Cl O Cl

+1 –1 +1 –2 +1

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Oxidation Numbers
4. The sum of the oxidation numbers is zero for a neutral compounds and equal
to the net charge for polyatomic ions

H2SO4 2(+1) + (?) + 4(–2) = 0 (net charge)

+1 ? –2 ? = +6

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Assigning Oxidation Numbers - Example
Determine the oxidation numbers of each element in the compound
C2 H6O

Step 1: Assign oxidation numbers to the elements you know

O = -2
H = +1

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Assigning Oxidation Numbers - Example
Determine the oxidation numbers of each element in the compound C2H6O

Step 2: Determine the oxidation number of the unknown elements

2C + 6H + O = 0
2C + 6(+1) + (-2) = 0
2C + 4 = 0
C = -2

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Assigning Oxidation Numbers – Practice

What are the oxidation numbers for each element in the following compounds?

1. C6Cl6

2. ClO4-

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Assigning Oxidation Numbers

What are the oxidation numbers for each element in the following compounds?

1. C6Cl6

C: +1 and Cl: -1

2. ClO4-

Cl: +7 and O:-2 45

Oxidation Numbers
● In a redox reaction, one
substance must be oxidized and
one substance must be reduced

● The total number of electrons

lost must equal the total number
of electrons gained

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Redox vs Nonredox Reactions
● If one substance is oxidized and another substance, then the
reaction is classified as redox

● Nonredox reactions do not contain both an oxidized and reduced

substance.

● You can identify if a reaction is redox or nonredox by examining

the changes in the oxidation numbers

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Decomposition Reactions

● Involves the breakdown of one

substance into two or more simpler
substances:

A B + C

● Example:

2 HgO(s) 2 Hg(l) + O2(g)

Combination Reactions

● Two or more substances react together to form a larger substance

A+ B C
Combination Reactions

Redox reaction

2 Mg(s) + O2(g) 2 MgO(s)

Mg: 0 +2 (oxidized)

O: 0 -2 (reduced)

Nonredox reaction

SO3(g) + H2O(l) H2SO4(aq) (no change in oxidation numbers)

Single Replacement Reactions
● An element reacts with a compound and displaces one element from the
compound

A + BX B + AX

● An example is the reaction of hydrogen gas with copper(II) oxide

Single Replacement Reactions

Example - Elemental carbon reacts with iron (III) oxide to form carbon dioxide
and solid iron metal.

3 C(s) + 2 Fe2O3(s) 4 Fe(s) + 3 CO2(g)

C: 0 +4 (oxidized) * All single replacement reactions

are redox reactions
Fe: +3 0 (reduced)
The Silver Tree Experiment – Group Exercise

● Silver nitrate reacts with copper metal according to the chemical equation

2 AgNO3(aq) + Cu(s) 2 Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NKI0gxbQZA

● Assign oxidation numbers to each element and determine which substance

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is oxidized and which substance is reduced.
The Silver Tree Experiment

2 AgNO3(aq) + Cu(s) 2 Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)

Ag: +1 -> 0 (reduced)

Cu: 0 -> +1 (oxidized)

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Double Replacement Reactions
● An element reacts with a compound and displaces one element from the
compound

AX + BY BX + AY

● All double replacement reactions are nonredox reactions

Double Replacement Reactions

Example - Hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium

chloride and water

HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

No change in oxidation numbers of all elements

Take Home Messages
● Chemical reactions involve the conversion of reactants to products

● Balancing chemical equations involves adding coefficients to satisfy the law of

conservation of mass

● Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from the oxidized substance to
the reduced substance

● Chemical reactions can be classified as combination, decomposition, single-

replacement, and double replacement