CHEMICAL REACTIONS

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 Introduction to Chemical Reactions
A chemical change—a chemical reaction—converts
one substance into another.
Chemical reactions involve:
•breaking bonds in the reactants (starting materials)
•forming new bonds in the products

CH4 and O2 CO2 and H2O 2

 Introduction to Chemical Reactions
A chemical equation is an expression that uses
chemical formulas and other symbols to illustrate
what reactants constitute the starting materials in a
reaction and what products are formed.
•The reactants are written on the left.
•The products are written on the right.
•Coefficients show the number of molecules of
a given element or compound that react or are
formed.

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Introduction to Chemical Reactions

•The law of conservation of mass states that

atoms cannot be created or destroyed in a
chemical reaction.
•Coefficients are used to balance an equation.
•A balanced equation has the same number of
atoms of each element on both sides of the
equation.

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Introduction to Chemical Reactions

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 Chemical Reactions

Evidences: (Observable changes)

•Change in color
•Change in temperature
•Evolution of gases or bubble formation
•Precipitation
 Balancing Chemical Equations
HOW TO Balance a Chemical Equation

Example Write a balanced chemical equation for

the reaction of propane (C3H8) with
oxygen (O2) to form carbon dioxide (CO2)
and water (H2O).
Step [1] Write the equation with the correct formulas.

C3H8 + O2 CO2 + H2O

•The subscripts in a formula can never be changed

to balance an equation, because changing a
subscript changes the identity of a compound.
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 Balancing Chemical Equations
HOW TO Balance a Chemical Equation

Step [2] Balance the equation with coefficients one

element at a time.
•Balance the C’s first:

•Balance the H’s next:

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 Balancing Chemical Equations
HOW TO Balance a Chemical Equation

Step [2] Balance the equation with coefficients one

element at a time.

•Finally, balance the O’s:

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 Balancing Chemical Equations
HOW TO Balance a Chemical Equation

Step [3] Check to make sure that the smallest set

of whole numbers is used.

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 Classes of Reactions

1.Combination or Synthesis
2.Decomposition
3.Single Replacement Reaction
4.Double Replacement
Reaction
 Combination or Synthesis
• two or more substances react to form a
single product
A + B  AB
2. Decomposition reactions
Decomposition
• a single compound breaks down into
two or more simpler substances
(elements or compounds)
AB  A + B

•often must add energy (heat/electricity) to

make reaction occur

2KClO3(s)  2KCl (s) + 3O2 (g)

 Single Displacement
3. Single-replacement reactions
• one element replaces another element
in a compound

A + BX  AX + B
•more active element replaces less active
element
•Refer to activity series of elements
 Copper metal reacts with aqueous silver nitrate to
produce silver metal and aqueous copper(II) nitrate.
Copper replaces silver (Activity series)

Cu
Cu ++2AgNO
(s)(s)
AgNO3(aq)  Ag
2Ag ++Cu(NO
(s)(s) Cu(NO3)32(aq)
)2(aq

Remember to apply the rules in writing ang

naming, diatomic molecule, crisscross, etc.
Look for the charges in the list of cations and
anions. Ag+1 NO3-1  AgNO3
Cu+2 NO3-1  Cu(NO3)2
 Double Displacement
4. Double-replacement reactions

• Exchange of ions between aqueous

solutions of two compounds.
AX + BY  AY + BX

Aqueous solutions of lead(II) nitrate and

potassium iodide react to form aqueous potassium
nitrate and a precipitate of lead(II) iodide.

Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2KI(aq)  2KNO3(aq) + PbI2(

 Thread for suturing
wounds is made from
nylon, one of the
countless products
synthesized by the
chemical industry
using chemical
reactions.

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