Chemical

Reactions
Y8 Science
Topic 2
Exothermic Reactions
Big Question: How to do things burn in oxygen?
With a partner…
Reflect on the Learning
Objectives before you Exothermic Reactions
dive in

1. If you were quizzed

today, which learning Learning Objectives
objectives would you 1.Understand that any reaction in which a
know the answers to substance combines with oxygen is
already? called an oxidation reaction.

2. Which learning 2.Describe what happens in an exothermic

objectives would you reaction.
need to learn more
about to answer 3.Describe combustion (burning) as an
confidently? example of an oxidation reaction and an
exothermic reaction.
 Try this…

1. Name a reactant and a product

Reactants – carbon and oxygen
Before we
Products – carbon dioxide
Begin…

2. How many atoms make up a

particle of carbon dioxide?
Three
3. How many of these atoms are
carbon?
Two
When we write a chemical reaction…
Exothermic Reactions When we burn
something, we can tell
it is an exothermic
What is an exothermic reaction? reaction because there
is heat released
An exothermic reaction is one
where thermal energy (heat) is
released.

Burning is one type of exothermic

reaction.

https://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/fire/movie/
Exothermic Reactions
Burning / Combustion
• Burning is a chemical reaction.
The scientific name for burning
is combustion.
• It can also be called oxidation, Burning requires
as to burn things they need to oxygen, fuel, and heat
(thermal energy)
have oxygen added to them.
• A product called an oxide
forms.

magnesium + oxygen ® magnesium oxide

EXPERIMENT: Burning as an example of a chemical reaction

Substance Observations

magnesium Bright white flame, white/grey ash

bread Went black
carbon (wood) Orange flame, wood went black, ash, smoke

iron wool Orange sparks while in the flame, black

Using a Bunsen burner, burn each sample and write

down your observations into the table
Complete Combustion
• When you burn a fuel containing carbon in
oxygen, carbon dioxide and water are formed.
This is called complete combustion.

Fuel (Carbon source) + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water

Incomplete Combustion
• If there isn’t enough oxygen, incomplete
combustion can occur. Toxic carbon monoxide is
made instead of carbon dioxide.

Fuel (Carbon source) + Oxygen  Carbon Monoxide + Carbon + Water

 Exam-style Questions
1. What is needed for combustion to
take place?
2. What is an exothermic reaction?
3. How can you tell that burning is an
exothermic reaction?
4. What is the scientific word for
Check for burning?
Understanding 5. What are the products of incomplete
combustion?
A. Carbon dioxide and water
B. Water
C. Carbon monoxide and water
D. Carbon monoxide and oxygen
 Before you leave today, complete an
exit card:

What did you

learn today?
Exothermic vs
Endothermic
Big Question: How can we tell whether a reaction
absorbs or releases heat energy?
With a partner…
Reflect on the Learning Endothermic vs
Objectives before you
dive in Exothermic
1. If you were quizzed
today, which learning Learning Objectives
objectives would you
1. Know that endothermic reactions
know the answers to absorb energy from their surroundings.
already?
2. Carry out exothermic and endothermic
reactions safely.
2. Which learning 3. Describe some uses of exothermic and
objectives would you endothermic reactions.
need to learn more
4. Carry out an investigation to
about to answer
distinguish between exothermic and
confidently? endothermic reactions.
Endothermic Reactions
Endothermic reactions absorb thermal energy from
their surroundings and change it to chemical energy
stored in the chemical bonds.
Endothermic vs Exothermic
In exothermic reactions and processes, thermal
energy is given out.
In endothermic reactions and processes, thermal
energy is taken in
Reactions of Metals
with Oxygen
Big Question: What do we observe when we heat
metals in air?
With a partner…
Reflect on the Learning Reactions of Metals
Objectives before you
dive in with Oxygen
1. If you were quizzed
today, which learning Learning Objectives
objectives would you
1. Describe how metals react with oxygen
know the answers to to form metal oxides.
already?
2. Know and use the general word equation
metal + oxygen  metal oxide.
2. Which learning 3. State that only iron rusts.
objectives would you 4. State the conditions necessary for the
need to learn more formation of rust.
about to answer 5. Describe different ways of preventing
confidently? rust from taking place
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlp2y1

Metal + Oxygen  Metal Oxide

Some metals will react with oxygen if they get hot
enough – the more quickly they react, the more
reactive they are.
Metal Observation

Zinc

Iron filings

Copper

Magnesium

Aluminium
Metal + Oxygen  Metal Oxide
Some metals do not react with oxygen – they are
inert.
Metal + Oxygen  Metal Oxide
Some metals react without even being heated. These
metals are so reactive, they must be kept in oil!

These metals will form a dull layer of metal oxide

immediately.
Rust – Iron + Oxygen
When iron is left in damp air, it forms rust.
Iron + Oxygen  Iron Oxide
Rust is not useful because it changes the properties of
the iron – like make it weaker (not good for an iron
bridge!)
How do we protect iron from rust?
Iron can be painted

Iron can be galvanised

Both of these methods

prevent oxygen reaching the
iron.
Lab: What Causes Iron to Rust?
In your groups, we will set up an experiment to see
what can cause rust to form on an iron nail.
Nail + … Observation
1 Calcium Chloride, top screwed on

2 Water, no top

3 Water + Vaseline, top screwed on

4 Water + zinc wrapped around, top

screwed on

5 Boiled water + oil, top screwed on

6 Salt water, top screwed on

 Try this…
1. What conditions are needed to
prevent iron from rusting?
2. Which test tube and which
conditions caused the iron to rust
most quickly?
3. Why is the same type of nail used in
Check for all test tubes?
Understanding 4. How is the air in tube 3 dried?
5. How is the air in tube 4 kept out of
contact with the nail?
Reactions of Metals
with Acid
Big Question: What are the products of an acid +
metal?
With a partner…
Reflect on the Learning Reactions of Metals
Objectives before you
dive in with Acid
1. If you were quizzed
today, which learning Learning Objectives
objectives would you
1. Describe the reactions of some metals
know the answers to with dilute acids.
already?
2. Know and use the general word equation:
metal + acid  metal salt + hydrogen.
2. Which learning 3. Be able to name metal salts produced by
objectives would you reactions with hydrochloric, sulfuric and
need to learn more nitric acid.
about to answer
confidently?
Prac: Metals + Acid
Copy the table below
Metal Observations
Copper
Iron filings
Zinc
Magnesium
Aluminium
Calcium
When you carry out your reactions, think about the
order of reactivity – the most to the least
Metals + Acid
Many metals react with acid. They produce a salt and
hydrogen gas.

Metal + Acid  Metal Salt + Hydrogen

Metals + Acid  Metal Salt + Hydrogen

The salt made depends on the metal and type of acid:

• When a metal reacts with hydrochloric acid, the
salt made is metal chloride
• When a metal reacts with sulfuric acid, the salt
made is metal sulfate
• When a metal reacts with nitric acid, the salt
made is metal nitrate
 Try this…
1. Magnesium + hydrochloric acid

2. Copper + nitric acid

Check for
Understanding 3. Aluminium + sulfuric acid
Prac: Magnesium + Acid
We are going to investigate how the length of
magnesium strip affects the amount of hydrogen gas
produced.
Reactions of Metals
with Water
Big Question: What do we observe when we heat
metals in air?
 Try this…
You have 2 minutes to write down
and complete as many of these word
equations as you can:
1. oxygen + sodium
2. oxygen + magnesium
Before we 3. oxygen + iron
Begin… 4. water + potassium
5. water + calcium
6. magnesium + steam
With a partner…
Reflect on the Learning Reactions of Metals
Objectives before you
dive in with Water
1. If you were quizzed
today, which learning Learning Objectives
objectives would you
1. Describe the reactions of some metals
know the answers to with water.
already?
2. Compare the reactivities of sodium,
calcium, magnesium and copper with
2. Which learning water.
objectives would you 3. Know and use the general word equation
need to learn more metal + water  metal hydroxide +
about to answer hydrogen.
confidently? 4. Understand that metals can also react
with steam to produce a metal oxide and
hydrogen.
Reactive Metals and Water
Very reactive metals react with water to form metal
hydroxide and hydrogen gas

Metal + Water  Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Metals such sodium and potassium are very reactive

Reactive Metals + Water
• Some metals are too reactive for you to test in
water.
• Sodium and potassium react very vigorously. They
must be stored under oil to prevent them from
reacting with the water vapour in the air.

metal + water  metal hydroxide + hydrogen

 Try this…
1. Write the word equation for the
reaction between sodium and water.
2. What safety precautions must be
taken when these reactions take
place?
3. Explain why these metals are stored
Check for under oil.
Understanding
Other Metals + Water
Some other metals react less
vigorously with water – you can
collect gases like this 

Other metals may only react with

steam (water as a gas).
Metal + water (g)  metal oxide + hydrogen

Metals, such as gold, do not react with water at all.