CHEMICAL

REACTIONS
AND
EQUATIONS
 WHAT IS A CHEMICAL
REACTION?
It is a chemical change in which one or more substances are destroyed and one or
more new substances are created.
A chemical reaction is a process where the reactant gets converted into a
product which may be under an influence of a catalyst

BEFORE AFTER

H2 gas H2O liquid

and

O2 gas
PARTS OF A CHEMICAL
REACTION Reactants  Products
Reactants: Substances that are destroyed by the chemical change (bonds break).
The substances which take part in a chemical reaction are known as reactants.
Products: Substances created by the chemical change (new bonds form).
The new substances formed during a chemical reaction are known as products.
The arrow () is read as “yields”.
Reactants and products differ in their physical and chemical properties.
 OTHER SYMBOLS IN CHEMICAL
REACTIONS

(s) = solid
(l) = liquid
(g) = gas
(aq) = aqueous solution (the substance is dissolved in H2O)
“+” separates two or more reactants or products
“” yield sign separates reactants from products
EVIDENCE FOR A CHEMICAL
REACTION
1) Evolution of light or heat.
EVIDENCE FOR A CHEMICAL
REACTION
2) Temperature change (increase or decrease) to the surroundings.
EVIDENCE FOR A CHEMICAL
REACTION
3) Formation of a gas (bubbling or an odor) other than boiling.
EVIDENCE FOR A CHEMICAL
REACTION
4) Color change (due to the formation of a new substance).
EVIDENCE FOR A CHEMICAL
REACTION
5) Formation of a precipitate (a new solid forms) from the reaction of two aqueous
solutions.
 WORD EQUATIONS

Statements that indicate the reactants and products in a chemical reaction.

Ex. Iron (s) + chlorine (g)  iron (III) chloride (s)

This is read as:

“Solid iron and chlorine gas react (combine) to produce solid iron (III)
chloride”
TRANSLATING WORD EQUATIONS TO
SKELETON EQUATIONS
A skeleton equation uses chemical formulas rather than words to identify the
reactants and products of a chemical reaction.

The word equation

Iron (s) + chlorine (g)  iron (III) chloride (s)

The skeleton equation

Fe(s) + Cl2(g)  FeCl3 (s)

A skeleton equation is not yet “balanced” by coefficients!

EXAMPLE
6 Na (s) + Fe2O3 (s)  3 Na2O (s) + 2 Fe (s)

 The numbers preceding the chemical formulae are coefficients. They are used to balance the
reaction.
 The numbers within the chemical formulae are subscripts.
 You can read the above balanced reaction as:

“6 atoms of solid sodium plus 1 formula unit of solid iron (III) oxide yields 3 formula units of solid
sodium oxide and 2 atoms of solid iron” or…

“6 moles of solid sodium plus 1 mole of solid iron (III) oxide yields 3 moles of solid sodium oxide
plus 2 moles of solid iron”

Chemical reactions can never be read in terms of grams, only in terms of particles or groups of
particles (moles).
CONSERVATION OF MASS
During a chemical reaction, atoms are neither created nor destroyed (Conservation
of Mass).
ANTOINE LAVOISER INTRODUCED LAW OF CONSERVATION OF
MASS
Hydrogen and oxygen gas react to form water:
H2 (g) + O2 (g)  H2O (l)
CONSERVATION OF MASS
H2 (g) + O2 (g)  H2O (l)

What is wrong with this equation above? Doesn’t it appear that one oxygen atom
“went missing”?

According to conservation of mass, the proper way to write this reaction is:

2H2 (g) + 1O2 (g)  2H2O (l)

The red coefficients represent the # of molecules (or the # of moles) of each
reactant or product.
NOT ALL PROPERTIES ARE CONSERVED
DURING CHEMICAL REACTIONS..!

CONSERVED NOT CONSERVED

Mass Color
Types of atoms Physical state (solid,
Number of each atom liquid, gas)
Volume
Number of moles of
reactants/products
TYPES OF ENERGY INTERACTION IN CHEMICAL
REACTION
In all the chemical reactions, transformation or change in energy is involved in form of heat.
On the basis of change in energy, all the reactions are divided into two parts:
i. Endothermic reactions and
ii. Exothermic reactions.

According to the modern view of chemical reactions, bonds between atoms in the reactants must be broken,
and the atoms or pieces of molecules are reassembled into products by forming new bonds. Energy is
absorbed to break bonds, and energy is evolved as bonds are made. In some reactions the energy required to
break bonds is larger than the energy evolved on making new bonds, and the net result is the absorption of
energy. Such a reaction is said to be endothermic if the energy is in the form of heat. The opposite of 
endothermic is exothermic; in an exothermic reaction, energy as heat is evolved. 
TYPES OF ENERGY INTERACTION IN CHEMICAL
REACTION
Endothermic reactions : The reaction in which heat is absorbed i.e., energy is given to the system from the
surroundings.
i. In the process of photosynthesis, plants by utilizing the energy of the sun convert carbon dioxide and water
in glucose and oxygen.
ii. Thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate results in formation of quick lime and carbon dioxide, in this
process energy is used to break the bond between carbon and oxygen.
Exothermic reactions: The reaction in which heat is evolved i.e., energy is given out from system to the
surroundings.
Sodium and chlorine are mixed together to yield table salt is an example of exothermic reaction.
411 kJ of energy is produced in this reaction.
TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS
The chemical reactions are of following types:
i. Combination Reaction
ii. Decomposition Reaction
iii. Displacement Reaction
iv. Double Displacement Reaction
v. Redox Reaction

Some Typical Reactions: Precipitation Reaction, Combustion Reaction,

Neutralization Reaction
COMBINATION REACTION
 
• It is also known as synthesis reaction.
• It is a reaction in which two or more substances (elements and/or compounds) combine to form a
single new substance.
• The general form of a combination reaction is : A + B AB
• Example:
i. Solid sodium metal reacts with chlorine gas to produce solid sodium chloride.
2Na(s) + (g) 2NaCl (s)
ii. Carbon reacts with oxygen in air to produce carbon dioxide gas.
C(s) + (g) C(g)
DECOMPOSITION REACTION
 
• It is a reaction in which a substance (compound) breaks down into two or more simpler
substances(elements or compounds).
• The general form of a decomposition reaction is : AB A + B
• Example:
i. Calcium carbonate decomposes to calcium oxide ans carbon dioxide.
CaC(s) CaO(s) + C(g)
ii. Mercuric oxide decomposes to liquid mercury and oxygen gas.
2HgO(s) 2Hg(l) + g)
THE DECOMPOSITION OF WATER BY
ELECTROLYSIS

An electrical current can be

used to chemically separate
water into oxygen gas and
hydrogen gas. Notice that twice
as much hydrogen is produced
compared to oxygen!

2H2O  2H2 + O2
• Why is the amount of gas collected in one of the test tubes in Activity 1.7 double of the amount
collected in the other? Name this gas.
Water (H2O) contains two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Therefore, the
amount of hydrogen and oxygen produced during electrolysis of water is in a 2:1 ratio. During
electrolysis, since hydrogen goes to one test tube and oxygen goes to another, the amount of gas
collected in one of the test tubes is double of the amount collected in the other

2H2O  2H2 + O2
ELECTROLYSIS OF MOLTEN SODIUM
CHLORIDE Many pure metals are
obtained by using
electrolysis to separate
metallic salts (ex.
NaCl is used to obtain
pure Na).
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION REACTION
• Some compounds break down when heated, forming two or more products from one reactant.
This type of reaction is called thermal decomposition
• CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

• ZnCO3 → ZnO + CO2

ELECTROLYTIC DECOMPOSITION REACTION
• Reactions in which compounds decompose into simpler compounds because of passing of
electricity, are known as ELECTROLYTIC DECOMPOSITION. This is also known as
ELECTROLYSIS.
• Example: When electricity is passed in water, it decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen.
2H2O  2H2 + O2
PHOTOLYSIS OR PHOTO DECOMPOSITION REACTION
• Reactions in which a compound decomposes because of sunlight are known as PHOTOLYSIS or
PHOTO DECOMPOSITION REACTION.
• Example: When silver chloride is put in sunlight, it decomposes into silver metal and chlorine
gas.
2AgCl → 2Ag + Cl2
• Similarly, when silver bromide is put under sunlight, it decomposes into silver metal and bromine
gas.
2AgBr → 2Ag + Br2
• Photographic paper has coat of silver chloride, which turns into grey when exposed to sunlight. It
happens because silver chloride is colourless while silver is a grey metal.
 
• A solution of a substance ‘X’ is used for white washing.
• (i) Name the substance ‘X’ and write its formula.
• (ii) Write the reaction of the substance ‘X’ named in (i) above with water.

CaO(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH ​(aq) + Heat

CaO - Calcium Oxide – Quick Lime
Ca(OH- Calcium Hydroxide – Slaked Lime

(i) The substance ‘X’ is calcium oxide, chemical formula is CaO.

(ii) Calcium oxide reacts vigorously with water to form calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3↓ + H2O

• Why are decomposition reactions called the opposite of combination reactions? Write
equations for these reactions.
Decomposition reactions are those in which a compound breaks down to form two
or more substances. These reactions require a source of energy to proceed. Thus, they are the
exact opposite of combination reactions in which two or more substances combine to give a
new substance with the release of energy.
• Write one equation each for the decomposition reactions where energy is supplied in the form
of heat, light or electricity. OR
• Decomposition reactions require energy either in the form of heat or light or electricity for
breaking down the reactants. Write one equation each for decomposition reactions where
energy is supplied in the form of heat, light and electricity.

• CaCO3 CaO + CO2 

heat
• 2AgBr 2Ag + Br2
light
• 2H2O electricity 2H2 + O2
• What is a balanced chemical equation? Why should chemical equations be balanced?
A reaction which has an equal number of atoms of all the elements on both sides of the
chemical equation is called a balanced chemical equation.
The law of conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor destroyed.
Hence, in a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants should be equal to the total mass of
the products. It means that the total number of atoms of each element should be equal on both
sides of a chemical equation. Hence, it is for this reason that chemical equations should be
balanced.
SINGLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION
 
• It is also known as single-replacement reaction.
• It is a reaction in which one element replaces a similar element in a compound, i.e., Metal
replaces metal and non- metal replaces non-metal.
• The general form of a decomposition reaction is :

A + BC AC + B, where A and B are metals and C is a non-metal.

X + YZ XY + Z, where X and Z are non-metals and Y is a metal.

SINGLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION
 
• Fe + CuS FeS + Cu.
• 2K + Mg 2KCl + Mg.
• AgN + NaCl AgCl + NaN.
• Zn + CuS ZnS + Cu.
• Cu + 2AgN CuN + 2Ag.
• Fe + CuS FeS + Cu.
• Pb + Cu Pb + Cu.
• + 2NaBr 2NaCl +
REACTIVITY SERIES
OF METALS
DOUBLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION
 
• It is also known as Double-replacement or Metathesis reaction.
• It is a reaction in which the positive and negative ions of two ionic compounds exchange their
places to form two new compounds. ‘
• It generally occur between substances in aqueous solution.
• In these reaction, one of the product is usually a solid precipitate, a gas, or a molecular compound
such as water.
• The general form of a decomposition reaction is : AB + CD AD + CB, where A and C are
positively charged ions (cations) and B and D are negatively charged ions (anions).
DOUBLE-DISPLACEMENT REACTION
 
• NaCl(aq) + AgN (aq) Na(N) (aq) + AgCl (s)
• BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → BaSO4(s) + 2 NaCl(aq)

• Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2KI(aq) → 2 KNO3(aq) + PbI2(s)

• NaHCO3 + CH3COOH(aq) → H2CO3 + NaCH3COO

• 2KI(aq) + Pb(N (aq) → 2KN(aq) + Pb(s)
• HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + O(l)
• H2​SO4 ​(aq) + Ba(OH ​(aq) → O + BaSO4

• 2NaCl + CaSO4 ​→ Na2​SO4 ​+ CaCl2

REDOX REACTIONS (OR) REDUCTION-OXIDATION
REACTION
• The reaction in which both reduction and oxidation takes place simultaneously is called redox
reaction.
• They are reactions in which transfer of electrons occurs between the two species.
• Oxidation is defined as addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen.
• Reduction is defined as removal of oxygen or addition of hydrogen.
• Oxidizing agent is the one which gains the electrons and is reduced in a chemical reaction.
• Reducing agent is oxidized in a chemical reaction and it loses the electrons.
• Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent.
• Lithium is strongest reducing agent.
REDOX REACTION
PRECIPITATE REACTION
• A precipitation reaction refers to the formation of an insoluble salt when two solutions containing
soluble salts are combined.
• The insoluble salt that falls out of solution is known as the precipitate, hence the reaction's name.
• Precipitation reactions can help determine the presence of various ions in solution.
• AgNO3(aqueous) + KCl(aqueous) → AgCl(precipitate) + KNO3(aqueous)
NEUTRALIZATION REACTIONS
• They are double-displacement reaction.
• They are reactions between acid and base which produce salt and water as products of reaction.
• 2 HCl(aq) + Mg(OH)2 (aq) → 2 H 2O(ℓ) + MgCl2 (aq)

• HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → H 2O(ℓ) + NaCl(aq)

• HCl(aq) + KOH(aq) → H 2O(ℓ) + KCl(aq)

• 2HNO3 (aq) + Ba(OH)2 (aq) → 2H2O(ℓ) + Ba(NO3)2 (aq)

• 2 H3PO4 (aq) + 3 Ca(OH)2 (aq) → 6 H2O(ℓ) + Ca3(PO4)2 (s)

• H2SO4(aq) + Sr(OH)2(aq) → 2 H2O(ℓ) + SrSO4(aq)

• H2C2O4(s) + Ca(OH)2(s) → 2 H2O(ℓ) + CaC2O4(s)

COMBUSTION REACTIONS
• They are reactions in which a substance reacts with oxygen gas, releasing energy in the form of
light and heat.
• Combustion reactions must involve oxygen gas as one of reactant and products are oxides of
element present in reacting species.
• A fuel undergoes oxidation by reacting with an oxidizing agent, resulting in the release of
energy (usually in the form of heat). Combustion reactions are generally highly exothermic
redox reactions between an oxidant and a fuel.
COMBUSTION REACTIONS
• Combustion of methane. CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g)

• Burning of naphthalene. C10H8 + 12 O2 → 10 CO2 + 4 H2O

• Combustion of ethane. 2 C2H6 + 7 O2 → 4 CO2 + 6 H2O

• Combustion of butane (commonly found in lighters).
2C4H10(g) +13O2(g) → 8CO2(g) +10H2O(g)
• Combustion of methanol (also known as wood alcohol)
2CH3OH(g) + 3O2(g) → 2CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)
• Combustion of propane (used in gas grills, fireplaces, and some cookstoves)
2C3H8(g) + 7O2(g) → 6CO2(g) + 8H2O(g)
• What is a complete combustion reaction?
Complete combustion reactions, sometimes referred to as clean combustion
reactions, involve the complete oxidation of the fuel (usually a hydrocarbon). Such reactions
often liberate only water and carbon dioxide as the products. A common example of a clean
combustion reaction is the combustion undergone by wax candles. Wax is a hydrocarbon which
undergoes clean combustion to yield only carbon dioxide and small amounts of water as the
product. It can also be noted that no ash/byproducts are left behind when the entire candle is
burnt out.

• What are incomplete combustion reactions?

Incomplete combustion reactions (sometimes referred to as ‘dirty’ combustion
reactions) are the combustion reactions that involve the formation of by-products such as ash
and soot. It is not uncommon for such combustion reactions to also liberate carbon monoxide (a
highly poisonous gas with the chemical formula CO) as one of the products. A common example
of an incomplete combustion reaction is the burning of wood.
• Why should a magnesium ribbon be cleaned before it is burnt in air?
Magnesium is an extremely reactive metal. When stored, it reacts with oxygen
to form a layer of magnesium oxide on its surface. This layer of magnesium oxide is quite stable
and prevents further reaction of magnesium with oxygen. The magnesium ribbon is cleaned by
sand paper for removing this layer so that the underlying metal can be exposed to air.