WPHS Honors Chemistry

Name

5 Chemical Reactions

Period

5.1 STUDY GUIDE

TYPES

Date

OF REACTIONS

Lesson Objectives
I can:
categorize a reaction as double replacement, single replacement, combination, decomposition, or combustion.
balance an equation by inspection

Class Notes
Representing Chemical Reactions
We can represent physical and chemical processes using chemical equations. A chemical equation states the
substances that present before the reaction starts (i.e. reactants), and the new substances that are formed as a result
of the process (i.e. products).
REACTANTS PRODUCTS
There are several different ways of writing a chemical equation.
Example: In a chemical reaction, a strip of magnesium ribbon is placed in a solution of hydrochloric acid,
resulting in the formation of hydrogen gas and a magnesium chloride solution.

Word Equation:

Skeleton (Unbalanced) Equation:

Balanced Molecular Equation:

Balanced Complete Ionic Equation:

Balanced Net Ionic Equation:

magnesium ribbon + hydrochloric acid solution

hydrogen gas + magnesium chloride solution
Mg (s) + HCl (aq) H2 (g) + MgCl2 (aq)
Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) H2 (g) + MgCl2 (aq)
Mg (s) + 2 H+ (aq) + 2 Cl (aq) H2 (g) + Mg2+ (aq) + 2 Cl (aq)
Mg (s) + 2 H+ (aq) H2 (g) + Mg2+ (aq)

This lesson focuses on writing the Balanced Molecular Equation.

The Law of Conservation of Matter (or conservation of mass) loosely states that the mass of the substances at
the beginning of a reaction is the same as that at the end of a reaction. Therefore, the number of atoms of each
element must be the same in the reactants as in the products, but might be rearranged to form different
compounds. We balance a chemical equation with coefficients to represent how matter is conserved.

5.1 Study Guide Types of Reactions

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Types of Chemical Reactions

We can classify reactions based on patterns of how substances react. Here are five common types of reactions.
REACTION TYPE

1. Combustion
Also called burning.

REACTANTS

PRODUCTS

Organic Compound + O2

CO2 + H2O

One Reactant

Several Products

Example: Ethanol is burned in air.

2. Decomposition
Often happens through heating.
Binary compounds decompose to elements.

Example: Solid aluminum chloride is heated leaving aluminum metal and chlorine gas.

3. Synthesis (or Combination)

Formation equations are synthesis reactions.
Elements combine to form binary compounds.

Several Reactants

One Product

Example: Solid phosphorus (P4) and sulfur (S8) combine to form tetraphosphorus trisulfide.

4. Single Replacement
Takes place in aqueous solution.

Element + Compound

Element + Compound

Example: Aluminum metal is placed in a solution of zinc chloride to form zinc metal and aqueous aluminum
chloride.

5. Double Replacement
Takes place in aqueous solution.

Two Ionic Compounds

Two Ionic Compounds

Example: Solutions of lead nitrate and potassium phosphate are mixed to form lead phosphate precipitate and
aqueous potassium nitrate.

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Problem Set
Set 1: Classify each reaction as Combustion (C), Decomposition (D), Double Replacement (DR), Single
Replacement (SR), or Synthesis (S). Then balance each equation.
TYPE

BALANCED EQUATION

Al (s) + Br2 () AlBr3 (s)

(a)
C3H7OH () + O2 (g) CO2 (g) + H2O ()
(b)
Ca (s) + HCl (aq) CaCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
(c)
CaBr2 (aq) + Na2CO3 (s) CaCO3 (s) + NaBr (aq)
(d)
(NH4)2CO3 (s) NH3 (g) + CO2 (g) + H2O ()
(e)
C3H6O (g) + O2 (g) CO2 (g) + H2O ()
(f)
Cu2O (s) Cu (s) + O2 (g)
(g)
Fe (s) + O2 (g) Fe2O3 (s)
(h)
K2CO3 (s) + Ca(NO3)2 (aq) KNO3 (aq) + CaCO3 (s)
(i)
Al (s) + Ag2SO4 (aq) Al2(SO4)3 (aq) + Ag (s)
(j)
Set 2: Write the skeleton equation for each reaction below. Classify each reaction as Combustion (C),
Decomposition (D), Double Replacement (DR), Single Replacement (SR), or Synthesis (S). Then balance the
equation.
TYPE

BALANCED EQUATION

Hydrogen gas is combined with oxygen gas.

(a)
Gaseous hydrogen iodide is heated strongly.
(b)

5.1 Study Guide Types of Reactions

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Solutions of sodium phosphate and strontium chlorate are mixed to form a solution of
sodium chlorate and a strontium phosphate precipitate.
(c)

Strontium metal is placed in an aqueous solution of cuprous bromide to form copper metal
and aqueous strontium bromide.
(d)

Liquid benzene (C6H6) is burned in air.

(e)
Solid potassium chlorate was strongly heated to form solid potassium chloride and oxygen
gas.
(f)

Solutions of sodium bromide and lead(II) acetate were combined, forming aqueous sodium
acetate and solid lead(II) bromide.
(g)

Solid sulfur (S8) reacts in oxygen gas to form gaseous sulfur dioxide.
(h)
Solid sodium metal is placed in water to form hydrogen gas and a solution of sodium
hydroxide.
(i)

Solid glucose, C6H12O6, reacts with oxygen.

(j)
Set 3: Write the balanced equations for the following synthesis or decomposition reactions.
Synthesis of gaseous nitrogen dioxide.
Solid copper(I) oxide is strongly heated.
(a)
(e)
Solid aluminum oxide is strongly heated.
(b)

Zinc metal reacts with chlorine gas.

(f)

Liquid phosphorous trichloride is decomposed.

(c)

Decomposition of gaseous sulfur trioxide.

(g)

Formation of gaseous ammonia (NH3).

(d)

5.1 Study Guide Types of Reactions

Formation of sodium oxide.

(h)

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5.1 Study Guide Types of Reactions

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