Unit 0: Chemical Reactions

Lesson 1:
Overview of Terminology and
Types of Reactions Part 1
Overview of Chemical
Reaction Terminology
Evidence of Chemical Change
1. Change in colour

2. Change in odour

3. Formation of a gas bubbles without boiling

4. Formation of a new solid (precipitate)

5. Release/absorption of energy (this can be a change in temperature or

production of light/sound)
Law of Conservation of Mass

● Matter can neither be created nor destroyed

● The mass of the products formed during a chemical reaction MUST equal to the
mass of reactants at the beginning

● A chemical reaction is simply the REARRANGEMENT of atoms

● THIS is why we HAVE to balance chemical reactions!

Kinetic Molecular Theory

● Recall the Particle Theory from grade 10, one postulate is:

Particles are always in motion

**Temperature is a measure of the average speed of the particles**

● Because particles are in motion, they collide

● Collision-Reaction Theory:
○ Chemical reactions involve collisions and rearrangements of atoms
○ Outcome of collisions depends on energy and orientation of the collisions
Representing Chemical Reactions

● Word Equation
○ Octane + oxygen 🡪 carbon dioxide + water

● Chemical Equation
○ 2 C8H18 + 25 O2 🡪 16 CO2 + 18 H2O

○ **Chemical equations MUST be balanced due to the law of conservation of mass**

Catalyst
● A substance used to help speed up the rate of a reaction

● They are NOT used up in the reaction – they remain completely unchanged
Practice Questions
pg 155 # 1 (top of page, before the summary)

pg 155 #1-5
Types of Reactions

Part 1
Synthesis Reaction

● When two atoms (or compounds) combine to form a new COMPOUND

● A + B → AB
Examples
1. Synthesis of simple binary compounds

element + element → compound

3 Mg + N2 → Mg3N2

2. Synthesis of oxides

element + oxygen gas → oxide

Mg + O2 → MgO

S8 + O2 → SO2
Examples

3. Synthesis of bases

metal oxide + water → base

MgO + H2O → Mg(OH)2

4. Synthesis of oxoacids

nonmetal oxide + water → oxoacid

SO2 + H2O → H2SO3

Decomposition Reaction

● A COMPOUND is broken down into individual atoms (or multiple

compounds)

● AB → A + B

⦿EX. 2 H2O → 2 H2 + O2
Examples
1. Decomposition of simple binary compounds

compound → element + element

2 H2O → 2 H 2 + O 2

2. Decomposition of Metal Carbonates

metal carbonate → metal oxide + carbon dioxide

MgCO3 → MgO + CO2

3. Decomposition of Group I Bicarbonates

group 1 bicarbonate → group 1 carbonate + water + carbon dioxide

2 NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

Examples

4. Decomposition of Metal Chlorates

metal chlorate → metal chloride + oxygen

2 NaClO3 → 2 NaCl + 3 O2

5. Decomposition of Metal Nitrate

metal nitrate → metal oxide + oxygen + nitrogen dioxide

4 NaNO3 → 2 Na2O + O2 + 4 NO2

6. Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide

2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2
Combustion Reactions

● Combustion is a special type of reaction with oxygen

● Hydrocarbons (molecules primarily made of hydrogen and carbon) react with oxygen
to produce carbon dioxide, water and lots of energy

Example: CH4(g) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + H2O(g) + energy

Complete vs Incomplete Combustion

● Complete combustion = oxygen is in excess (ie there is LOTS of it)

- the ONLY products are carbon dioxide and water (and energy)

● Incomplete combustion = oxygen is limited

- the products usually include carbon dioxide and water but may also include
carbon monoxide and soot (black solid)

- soot is a mixture of solid carbon-rich compounds and is often represented

by C(s) in chemical equations
Complete vs Incomplete Combustion

● Complete combustion = blue flame and maximum amount of energy

produced for the fuel being burned

● Incomplete combustion = orange, sooty flame and less energy is produced

than complete combustion
Practice
Synthesis and Decomposition

pg 157 # 1

pg 161 # 1, 2, 5, 8

Combustion

pg 197 # 2, 4, 5, 6, 7