CHEMICAL EQUATIONS &

REACTIONS

http://www.unit5.org/chemistry/Equations.html
• In chemical change atoms are rearranged but no atoms
are created and none are destroyed
• Chemical equations are symbolic representations of
what is happening at the molecular level and are used
to communicate the conditions under which a reaction
proceeds, the products and amount of energy that
results, and allow for predictions to be made.
 ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
Chemical
reactions

Chemical Chemical
equations equations

• Synthesis
• Balancing equations • Decomposition
• Single replacement
• Predicting products • Double replacement
from reactants • Combustion

Packard, Jacobs, Marshall, Chemistry Pearson AGS Globe, page 175

 DESCRIBING A CHEMICAL
REACTION
Indications of a Chemical Reaction

• Evolution of heat, light, and/or sound

• Production of a gas

• Formation of a precipitate

• Color change
SIGNS OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
There are five main signs that indicate a chemical reaction has taken place:

release
input
change in color change in odor production of new input or release difficult to reverse
gases or vapor of energy
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS aluminum oxide

Depict the kind of reactants and product

products
and their relative amounts in a reaction.

4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Al2O3(s)

The letters (s), (g), and (l) are the

physical states of compounds.

The numbers in the front are called

stoichiometric coefficients.
coefficients
 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
aluminum oxide
sandpaper

4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Al2O3(s)

4 g Al + 3 g O2 yield 2 g Al2O3

This equation means:

4 Al atoms + 3 O2 molecules yield 2 molecules of Al2O3

or
4 Al moles + 3 O2 moles yield 2 moles of Al2O3
4 mol Al@27g/mol 3 mol O2@32g/mol 2 mol Al2O3@102g/mol
108 g + 96 g = 204 g
 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

Because the same atoms are present

in a reaction at the beginning (reactants)
and at the end (products), the amount
of matter in a system does not change.

The Law of Conservation of Matter

20%
100% 100%
Chemical
80%
Factory

Kotz web
 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

Because of the principle of the conservation of matter,

matter

An equation must be balanced.

balanced

It must have the same number of atoms

of the same kind on both sides.

Lavoisier, 1788
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS

• The equation must represent known facts.

• The equation must contain the correct formulas for the

reactants and products.

• The law of conservation of mass must be satisfied.

 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

• Reactants – the substances that exist before a chemical change

(or reaction) takes place.

• Products – the new substance(s) that are formed during the

chemical changes.

• CHEMICAL EQUATION indicates the reactants and products

of a reaction.

REACTANTS  PRODUCTS
 WORD EQUATIONS
• A WORD EQUATION describes chemical change using the
names of the reactants and products.

Write the word equation for the reaction of methane gas

with oxygen gas to form carbon dioxide and water.

methane + oxygen carbon dioxide + water

Reactant Product
CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O
Unbalanced and Balanced Equations

Cl Cl H H
Cl H
H
Cl Cl Cl
Cl
H
H

H2 + Cl2  HCl (unbalanced) H2 + Cl2  2 HCl (balanced)

reactants products reactants products

H 2 1 H 2 2
Cl 2 1 Cl 2 2
 VISUALIZING A CHEMICAL REACTION
2 Na + Cl 2 2 NaCl

10 mole Na
___ 5 mole Cl2
___ 10
? mole NaCl
___
VISUALIZING A CHEMICAL REACTION
2 Na + Cl 2 2 NaCl
MEANING OF CHEMICAL FORMULA

Chemical
Symbol Meaning Composition

H2O One molecule Two H atoms and one O atom

of water:

2 H 2O Two molecules Four H atoms and two O atoms

of water:

H 2O 2 One molecule Two H atoms and two O atoms

of hydrogen
peroxide:
 BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

Balanced Equation – one in which the number of atoms of each

element as a reactant is equal to the number of atoms of that
element as a product

What is the relationship between conservation of mass and

the fact that a balanced equation will always have the same
number of atoms of each element on both sides of an equation?

Determine whether the following equation is balanced.

2 Na + H2O  2 NaOH + H2
2 Na + 2 H2O  2 NaOH + H2
 BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

• Write a word equation for the reaction.

• Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

• Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

 GENERAL STEPS

• Consider the first element listed in the first formula in

the equation.
• If this element is mentioned in two or more formulas on
the same side of the arrow, skip it until after the other
elements are balanced. (See Example 4.2.)
• If this element is mentioned in one formula on each side
of the arrow, balance it by placing coefficients in front
of one or both of these formulas.
 CONT.

• Moving from left to right, repeat the process for each

element.
• When you place a number in front of a formula that
contains an element you tried to balance previously,
recheck that element and put its atoms back in
balance. (See Examples 4.2 and 4.3.)
• Continue this process until the number of atoms of
each element is balanced.
 STRATEGY

• Strategy 1 Often, an element can be balanced by using the

subscript for this element on the left side of the arrow as the
coefficient in front of the formula containing this element on the
right side of the arrow, and vice versa (using the subscript of this
element on the right side of the arrow as the coefficient in front of
the formula containing this element on the left side). (See Example
4.3.)
• Strategy 2 It is sometimes easiest, as a temporary measure, to
balance the pure non metallic elements (H2, O2, N2, F2, Cl2, Br2,
I2)with a fractional coefficient (1/2,3/2,5/2, etc.). If you do use a
fraction during the balancing process, you can eliminate it later by
multiplying each coefficient in the equation by the fraction’s
denominator (which is usually the number 2). (See Example 4.4.)
• Strategy 3 If polyatomic ions do not change in the
reaction, and therefore appear in the same form on
both sides of the chemical equation, they can be
balanced as though they were single atoms. (See
Example 4.5.)
• Strategy 4 If you find an element difficult to
balance, leave it for later.
EXAMPLE 4.1 - BALANCING EQUATIONS

• Balance the following equation so that it correctly describes

the reaction for the formation of nitrogen oxide (commonly
called nitrous oxide), an anesthetic used in dentistry and
surgery.

Solution
The following table shows that the atoms are not balanced yet.
 • Nitrogen is the first element in the first formula. It is found in
one formula on each side of the arrow, so we can try to
balance it now. There are two nitrogen atoms on the right side
of the equation and only one on the left; we bring them into
balance by placing a 2 in front of NH.

There are now six hydrogen atoms on the left side of the arrow (in
the two NH molecules) and only two H’s on the right, so we
balance the hydrogen atoms by placing a 3 in front of the HO. This
gives six atoms of hydrogen on each side.
 • There are now two oxygen atoms on the left and four on the
right (in one NO and three H2O’s), so we balance the oxygen
atoms by placing a 2 in front of the O.

The following space-filling models show how you might visualize

the relative number of particles participating in this reaction. You
can see that the atoms regroup but are neither created nor
destroyed.
 EXAMPLE 4.2 - BALANCING
EQUATIONS

Solution

Nitrogen is the first element in the equation; however, because

nitrogen is found in two formulas on the left side of the arrow, we
will leave the balancing of the nitrogen atoms until later.

Balance the hydrogen atoms by placing a 2 in front of H2O.

 • Balance the oxygen atoms by changing the 2 in front of H2O
to a 4.

Because we unbalanced the hydrogen atoms in the process of

balancing the oxygen atoms, we need to go back and re-balance the
hydrogen atoms by placing a 2 in front of the N2H4

Finally, we balance the nitrogen atoms by placing a 3 in front of N2.

 EXAMPLE 4.3 - BALANCING
EQUATIONS
• Balance the following equation so that it correctly describes
the reaction for the formation of tetraphosphorus trisulfide
(used in the manufacture of matches).
 The phosphorus atoms appear to be balanced at this stage. We
can balance the sulfur atoms by using the subscript for the sulfur
on the right (3) as the coefficient for S on the left and using the
subscript for the sulfur on the left (8) as the coefficient for the
sulfur compound on the right. (Strategy 1)

We restore the balance of the phosphorus atoms by placing an 8 in

front of P4.
EXAMPLE 4.5 - BALANCING EQUATIONS

• Balance the following equation for the chemical reaction that

forms zinc phosphate(used in dental cements and for making
galvanized nails).
 Balance the zinc atoms by placing a 3 in front of Zn(NO3)2.

The nitrate ions, NO-3, emerge unchanged from the reaction, so we

can balance them as though they were single atoms. There are six
NO
-3 ions in three Zn(NO3)2. We therefore place a 6 in front of the
NaNO3 to balance the nitrates. (Strategy 3)

Balance the sodium atoms by placing a 2 in front of the Na3PO4

The phosphate ions, PO4 -3, do not change in the reaction, so we can balance
them as though they were single atoms. There are two on each side, so the
phosphate ions are balanced. (Strategy 3)
 BALANCING CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS
Other examples
NO(g) + O2(g)  NO2(g) is it balanced?

Is this balanced? NO(g) + O(g)  NO2(g)

Is this OK?

Is this balanced? NO(g) + ½ O2(g)  NO2(g)

Is this OK?
 BALANCING CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS
An important point to remember
2 NO(g) + O2(g)  2NO2(g)

The 2 to the left of NO(g) and NO2(g) refers to the number

of molecules present in the balanced equation.

It is a “multiplier” for every atom in the molecule.

The subscript 2 in O2 (g) and NO2(g) refers to the number

of atoms of this type that are present in each molecules

(or ionic compound).
2 (NH4)3PO4 + 3 Mg(OH)2  Mg3(PO4)2 + 6 NH?
4OH

ammonium phosphate magnesium hydroxide magnesium phosphate ammonium hydroxide

NH41+ OH1-

Now you try…

2 AlCl3 + 3 Li2CO3  Al2(CO3)3 + 6LiCl
Write a balanced equation for the reaction between chlorine
and sodium bromide to produce bromine and sodium chloride.

1) Write a word equation for the reaction.

chlorine + sodium bromide  bromine + sodium chloride

2) Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

Cl2 + NaBr  Br2 + NaCl

3) Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

Cl2 + 2 NaBr  Br2 + 2 NaCl

 Write the balanced equation for the reaction between
aluminum sulfate and calcium chloride to form a white
precipitate of calcium sulfate.

1) Write a word equation for the reaction.

? ?
aluminum sulfate + calcium chloride  calcium sulfate + aluminum chloride

2) Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

Al2(SO4)3 + CaCl2  CaSO4 + AlCl3

3) Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

Al2(SO4)3 + 3 CaCl2  3 CaSO4 + 2 AlCl3

CH4 + 2 O2  CO2 + 2 H2O

Reactants Products
1 C atom 1 C atom
4 H atoms 4 H atoms
4 O atoms 4 O atoms
REACTANTS  PRODUCTS
+

C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

carbon oxygen carbon dioxide
Reactants Product
1 carbon atom 1 carbon atom
2 oxygen atoms 2 oxygen atoms

catalyst – speeds up reaction

+ Pt

2 H2(g) + O2(g) Pt
2 H2O (l)
hydrogen oxygen water
Reactants Product
2 hydrogen atoms
4 2 hydrogen atoms
4
2 oxygen atoms 1 oxygen atoms
2
Unbalanced
 SHOWING PHASES IN
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

H2O(s) H2O(l) H2O(g)

Solid Phase – the substance is relatively rigid and has a definite

volume and shape. NaCl(s)

Liquid Phase – the substance has a definite volume, but is able to

change shape by flowing. H2O(l)

Gaseous Phase – the substance has no definite volume or shape,

and it shows little response to gravity. Cl2(g)
ADDITIONAL SYMBOLS USED IN CHEMICAL
EQUATIONS
“Yields”; indicates result of reaction

Used to indicate a reversible reaction

A reactant or product in the solid state;

also used to indicate a precipitate
(s)
Alternative to (s), but used only to indicate a precipitate

A reactant or product in the liquid state

A reactant or product in an aqueous solution

(l) (dissolved in water)

A reactant or product in the gaseous state

(aq)

(g)
 Additional Symbols Used in Chemical Equations

Alternative to (g), but used only to indicate a gaseous product

 Reactants are heated

2 atm Pressure at which reaction is carried out, in this case 2 atm

pressure Pressure at which reaction is carried out exceeds normal

atmospheric pressure

0 oC Temperature at which reaction is carried out, in this case 0 oC

MnO2 Formula of catalyst, in this case manganese (IV) oxide,

used to alter the rate of the reaction
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
 TYPES OF REACTIONS
• There are five types of chemical reactions we will talk
about:
1. Synthesis reactions
2. _____________ reactions
3. Single displacement reactions
4. ________________ reactions
5. Combustion reactions
• You need to be able to identify the type of reaction and
predict the product(s)
 STEPS TO WRITING REACTIONS

• Some steps for doing reactions

1. Identify the type of reaction
2. Predict the product(s) using the type of reaction as a model
3. Balance it

Don’t forget about the diatomic elements! (BrINClHOF) For example,

Oxygen is O2 as an element.
In a compound, it can’t be a diatomic element because it’s not an element
anymore, it’s a compound!
 1. SYNTHESIS REACTIONS
• Synthesis reactions occur when two substances (generally
elements) combine and form a compound. (Sometimes these are
called combination or addition reactions.)
reactant + reactant  1 product
• Basically: A + B  AB
• Example: 2H2 + O2  2H2O
• Example: C + O2  CO2
 SYNTHESIS REACTIONS
• Here is another example of a synthesis reaction
 PRACTICE
• Predict the products. Write and balance the following
synthesis reaction equations.
• Sodium metal reacts with chlorine gas
Na(s) + Cl2(g) 
• Solid Magnesium reacts with fluorine gas
Mg(s) + F2(g) 
• Aluminum metal reacts with fluorine gas
Al(s) + F2(g) 
 2. DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS
• Decomposition reactions occur when a compound breaks up
into the elements or in a few to simpler compounds
• 1 Reactant  Product + Product
• In general: AB  A + B
• Example: 2 H2O  2H2 + O2
• Example: 2 HgO  2Hg + O2
 DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS

• Another view of a decomposition reaction:

 DECOMPOSITION EXCEPTIONS
• Carbonates and chlorates are special case decomposition
reactions that do not go to the elements.
• Carbonates (CO32-) decompose to carbon dioxide and a metal oxide
• Example: CaCO3  CO2 + CaO
• Chlorates (ClO3-) decompose to oxygen gas and a metal chloride
• Example: 2 Al(ClO3)3  2 AlCl3 + 9 O2
• There are other special cases, but we will not explore those in
Chemistry I
 PRACTICE

• Predict the products. Then, write and balance the following

decomposition reaction equations:
• Solid Lead (IV) oxide decomposes
PbO2(s) 
• Aluminum nitride decomposes
AlN(s) 
 PRACTICE
Identify the type of reaction for each of the
following synthesis or decomposition reactions,
and write the balanced equation:
N2(g) + O2(g)  Nitrogen monoxide
BaCO3(s) 
Co(s)+ S(s) 
NH3(g) + H2CO3(aq) (make Co be +3)
NI3(s) 
 3. SINGLE REPLACEMENT
REACTIONS
• Single Replacement Reactions occur when one element replaces
another in a compound.
• A metal can replace a metal (+) OR
a nonmetal can replace a nonmetal (-).
• element + compound element + compound
A + BC  AC + B (if A is a metal) OR
A + BC  BA + C (if A is a nonmetal)
(remember the cation always goes first!)

When H2O splits into ions, it splits into

H+ and OH- (not H+ and O-2 !!)
SINGLE REPLACEMENT REACTIONS

• Another view:
SINGLE REPLACEMENT REACTIONS

• Write and balance the following single

replacement reaction equation:
• Zinc metal reacts with aqueous hydrochloric
acid
2 (aq)  ZnCl2 + H2(g)
Zn(s) + HCl
Note: Zinc replaces the hydrogen ion in the
reaction
 SINGLE REPLACEMENT REACTIONS
• Sodium chloride solid reacts with fluorine gas
NaCl(s) + F2(g)  NaF(s) + Cl2(g)
Note2that fluorine replaces chlorine
2 in the compound
• Aluminum metal reacts with aqueous copper (II)
nitrate
Al(s)+ Cu(NO3)2(aq)
 4. DOUBLE REPLACEMENT
REACTIONS
• Double Replacement Reactions occur when a
metal replaces a metal in a compound and a
nonmetal replaces a nonmetal in a compound
• Compound + compound  compound+
compound
• AB + CD  AD + CB
 DOUBLE REPLACEMENT REACTIONS

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

ions go together + inside ions go together
• Example:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)  AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

• Another example:
2 3(aq) + BaSO4(s)
K2SO4(aq) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)  KNO
 5. COMBUSTION REACTIONS
• Combustion reactions occur
when 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) A Fuel (hydrocarbon)
2) Oxygen to burn it with
3) Something to ignite the
reaction (spark)
 COMBUSTION REACTIONS
• In general:
CxHy + O2  CO2 + H2O
• Products in combustion are
ALWAYS carbon dioxide and
water. (although 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)
COMBUSTION
REACTIONS

Edgar Allen Poe’s

drooping eyes and
mouth are potential
signs of CO
poisoning.
 COMBUSTION

• Example
• C5H12 + O2 
8 CO2 + H2O
5 6
• Write the products and balance the following combustion
reaction:
• C10H22 + O2 