Chemical Reactions

• Chemical reactions are described by chemical

equations. A chemical equation represents, with
symbols and formulas, the identities and relative
molecular or molar amounts of the reactants and
products in a chemical reaction. For example, the
following chemical equation shows that the
reactant ammonium dichromate yields the products
nitrogen, chromium(III) oxide, and water.

(NH 4) 2Cr 2 O7(s) ⟶ N 2 ( g) + Cr 2 O 3(s) + 4H 2 O( g)

 Evidences of Chemical
Reactions
• The products of a chemical reaction are always different from
the reactants . In other words, a chemical reactio is always
accompanied by a chemical change evidenced as any of the
following.
• change in color
• evolution of gas (formation of bubbles)
• evolution or absorption of heat (warming, cooling, formation
of sparks or flame)
• formation of precipitate (an insoluble solid)
• change in odor
 Basic Types of Chemical Reactions
1. Synthesis or ( Combination Reaction )
In a synthesis reaction, also known as a composition
reaction, two or more substances combine to form a new
compound. This type of reaction is represented by the
following general equation:
A + X ⟶ AX

A and X can be elements or compounds. AX is a compound.

• Metal and Non Metal, forming an ionic
compound.
2Mg(s) + O2(g) ⟶ 2MgO(s)
• Nonmetals, producing a covalent compound like
ammonia.
N2(g) + 3H2(g) ⟶ 2NH3(g)
• Two compounds such as the reaction between
sulfur trioxide and water, forming sulfuric acid.
SO + H O ⟶ H SO
 Basic Types of Chemical
Reactions
2. Decomposition (or Analysis) Reactions
In a decomposition reaction, a single compound undergoes a
reaction that produces two or more simpler substances.
Decomposition reactions are the opposite of synthesis
reactions and are represented by the followinggeneral
equation.
AX ⟶ A + X

AX is a compound. A and X can be elements or compounds.

• Metal and Non Metal, forming an ionic
compound.
2CuCl2(s)  2Cu(s) + Cl 2(g) ‘
• Covalent compound may also disassociate into its
nonmetallic elements
2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g)
 Basic Types of Chemical Reactions
3. Single Replacement (or Substitution) Reactions
In a single-displacement reaction, also known as a replacement reaction, one element
replaces a similar element in a compound. Many single displacement reactions take
place in aqueous solution. The amount of energy involved in this type of reaction is
usually smaller than the amount involved in synthesis or decomposition reactions.
Single-displacement reactions can be represented by the following general equations:

A + BX ⟶ AX + B
or
Y + BX ⟶ BY + X

A, B, X, and Y are elements. AX, BX, and BY are compounds.

• Displacement of a Metal in a Compound by
Another Metal
Aluminum is more active than lead. When solid
aluminum is placed in aqueous lead(II) nitrate,
Pb(NO3)2(aq), the aluminum replaces the lead. Solid
lead and aqueous aluminum nitrate are formed.

2Al(s) + 3Pb(NO3)2(aq) ⟶ 3Pb(s) + 2Al(NO3)3(aq)

• Displacement of Hydrogen in Water by a Metal
The most-active metals, such as those in Group 1, react
vigorously with water to produce metal hydroxides and
hydrogen. For example, sodium reacts with water to form
sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) ⟶ 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

Less-active metals, such as iron, react with steam to form a

metal oxide and hydrogen gas.

3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) ―⟶ Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

Basic Types of Chemical Reactions
• In double-displacement reactions, the ions of two compounds
exchange places in an aqueous solution to form two new compounds.
One of the compounds formed is usually a precipitate, an insoluble
gas that bubbles out of the solution, or a molecular compound,
usually water. The other compound is often soluble and remains
dissolved in solution. A double- displacement reaction is represented
by the following general equation.
AX + BY ⟶ AY + BX

A, X, B, and Y in the reactants represent ions. AY and BX represent ionic

or molecular compounds.
•Acid Base Neutralization
Reaction
HCl(aq) +NaOH  H2O + NaCl (aq)
• Formation of a Precipitate (Precipitation Reaction)
• The formation of a precipitate occurs when the cations of one reactant
combine with the anions of another reactant to form an insoluble or slightly
soluble compound. For example, when an aqueous solution of potassium
iodide is added to an aqueous solution of lead(II) nitrate, the yellow
precipitate lead(II) iodide forms.

2KI(aq) + Pb(NO3)2(aq) ⟶ PbI2(s) + 2KNO3(aq)

Formation of a Gas (Gas Evolution Reactions)
In some double-displacement reactions, one of the products is an insoluble
gas that bubbles out of the mixture. For example, iron(II) sulfide reacts with
hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen sulfide gas and iron(II) chloride.

FeS(s) + 2HCl(aq) ⟶ H2S(g) + FeCl2(aq)

 Basic Types of Chemical Reactions

•Combustion Reaction

CH 4 + O 2  CO 2(g) + H2O (l)

Chemical Equations

 It is the language used by the

chemist to express a chemical
reaction.
 Use symbols to express what takes
place in a chemical reaction.
•
Symbols Used in Equations
Step 1. Write the formula of the reactants and the
products of the equations.
Example. H 2 + O 2  H 2 O
Step 2. Count the number of each element from
the reactants and the products.
• Step 3. Write a coefficient before the symbol
of an element or a compound.
2 H 2 + O2 2 H 2 O
 Balance the following equations.

1. N2(g) + H2(g)  NH3(g)

2. C2H8N2(g) + N2O4(g)  N2(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(g)
3. KClO3 → KClO4 + KCl.
4. Al + HCl → AlCl3 + H2
5. CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2
Balance the following equations.
1. __ Sn O 2 + __ H 2  __ Sn + __ H 2 O
2. __ Zn + __ HCl  __ Zn Cl 2 + __ H 2
3. Xe + F 2  Xe F 6
4. __ KOH + __ CO 2  __ K 2 CO 3 + __ H 2 O
5. __Fe + __ H 2 O  __ Fe 3 O + __ H 2