“Chemical

Reactions”

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 All chemical reactions…
have two parts:
1. Reactants = the substances you
start with
2. Products = the substances you
end up with
The reactants will turn into the
products.
Reactants → Products
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 Products
Reactants

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 In a chemical reaction
Atoms aren’t created or destroyed (according
to the Law of Conservation of Mass)
A reaction can be described several ways:
#1. In a sentence every item is a word
Copper reacts with chlorine to form copper (II)
chloride.
#2. In a word equation some symbols used
Copper + chlorine → copper (II) chloride
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 Symbols in equations
the arrow (→) separates the reactants
from the products (arrow points to products)
–Read as: “reacts to form” or yields
The plus sign = “and”
(s) after the formula = solid: Fe(s)
(g) after the formula = gas: CO2(g)
(l) after the formula = liquid: H2O(l)
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 Symbols used in equations
(aq) after the formula = dissolved
in water, an aqueous solution:
NaCl(aq) is a salt water solution
used after a product indicates a
gas has been produced: H2↑
 used after a product indicates a
solid has been produced: PbI2↓
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 Symbols used in equations
■ double arrow indicates a
reversible reaction (more later)

■ ⎯ ⎯⎯→ , ⎯ ⎯ ⎯⎯→ shows that
heat

heat is supplied to the reaction

Pt
■ ⎯ ⎯⎯→ is used to indicate a
catalyst is supplied (in this case,
platinum is the catalyst)
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 What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up a
reaction, without being
changed or used up by the
reaction.
Enzymes are biological or
protein catalysts in your body.
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 To identify whether an element is a
solid, liquid, or gas under standard
conditions (typically room
temperature and atmospheric
pressure), you can refer to several
guidelines based on the element's
position in the periodic table, as well
as its general properties:

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1. Metals (usually solids)
• Most metals are solid at room
temperature, with the exception of
mercury (Hg), which is a liquid.
Examples of metals in solid state:
• Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Aluminum
(Al), Gold (Au)

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 2. Nonmetals (can be solids, liquids, or gases)
• Nonmetals can exist in all three physical states.
• Gases: Most nonmetals that are gases are
located in Group 18 (Noble Gases) or Group 17
(Halogens) and some in Group 16.
• Examples: Oxygen (O₂), Nitrogen (N₂), Hydrogen (H₂), Chlorine
(Cl₂), Helium (He), Neon (Ne)
• Solids: Some nonmetals are solid at room
temperature, like carbon and phosphorus.
• Examples: Carbon (C) (in forms such as graphite or diamond),
Sulfur (S), Phosphorus (P)
• Liquids: The only nonmetal that is a liquid at
room temperature is bromine (Br₂).
• Example: Bromine (Br₂) (liquid)

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3. Metalloids (usually
solids)Metalloids, elements that have
properties of both metals and
nonmetals, are typically
solids.Examples: Silicon (Si), Boron
(B), Arsenic (As)

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4. Halogens (Group 17)
• Halogens include elements in all
three states at room temperature:
• Fluorine (F₂) and chlorine (Cl₂) are
gases.
• Bromine (Br₂) is a liquid.
• Iodine (I₂) is a solid.

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Summary for Identifying Physical
States:
• Metals are generally solids (except
mercury).
• Nonmetals can be gases, solids, or a
liquid (bromine).
• Noble Gases (Group 18) are gases.
• Metalloids are typically solids.

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Common elements and their physical
states at room temperature:
• Gas: Hydrogen (H₂), Oxygen (O₂),
Nitrogen (N₂), Chlorine (Cl₂), Helium
(He)
• Liquid: Bromine (Br₂), Mercury (Hg)
• Solid: Iron (Fe), Carbon (C), Sulfur
(S), Phosphorus (P), Silicon (Si)

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 Summary of Symbols

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 The Skeleton Equation
Uses formulas and symbols to
describe a reaction
All chemical equations are a
description of the reaction.

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 Write a skeleton equation for:
1. Solid iron (III) sulfide reacts with
gaseous hydrogen chloride to form
iron (III) chloride and hydrogen
sulfide gas.
2. Nitric acid dissolved in water reacts
with solid sodium carbonate to form
liquid water and carbon dioxide gas
and sodium nitrate dissolved in
water.
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 Balanced Chemical Equations
Atoms can’t be created or destroyed
in an ordinary reaction:
–All the atoms we start with we must
end up with (meaning: balanced!)
A balanced equation has the same
number of each element on both
sides of the equation.
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 Rules for balancing:
1) Assemble the correct formulas for all the
reactants and products, using “+” and “→”
2) Count the number of atoms of each type
appearing on both sides
3) Balance the elements one at a time by
adding coefficients (the numbers in front)
where you need more
4) Double-Check to make sure it is balanced.

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 Never change a subscript to balance an
equation (You can only change coefficients)
– If you change the subscript (formula) you
are describing a different chemical.
– H2O is a different compound than H2O2
Never put a coefficient in the middle of a
formula; they must go only in the front
2NaCl is okay, but Na2Cl is not.
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 Types of Reactions
There are five types of chemical
reactions
1. Synthesis reactions
2. Decomposition reactions
3. Single replacement reactions
4. Double displacement reactions
5. Combustion reactions

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 Steps to Writing Reactions
Some steps for doing reactions
1. Identify the type of reaction
2. Predict the product(s) using the type of reaction
as a model
3. Balance it
Don’t forget about the diatomic elements!
(BrINClHOF) For example, Oxygen is O2 as an
element.
In a compound, it can’t be a diatomic element
because it’s not an element anymore, it’s a
compound!

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 Combination Reactions
Synthesis reactions occur when two
substances (generally elements) combine and
form a compound. (Sometimes these are
called combination or addition reactions.)
reactant + reactant → 1 product
General Equation: A + B → AB
We can predict the products, especially if the
reactants are two elements.

Mg + N2 → Mg N (symbols, charges, cross)

3 2

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Depending on the reactants involved, a combination
reaction may follow different patterns.
1. Metal + Nonmetal → salt
Na(s) + Cl(s) → NaCl(s)
2. Nonmetal Oxide + Water → oxyacid
SO2(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO3(aq)
3. Metal + Oxygen → Metal oxide
2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)
4. Metal Oxide + Water → Metal hydroxide
CaO(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq)
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5. Nonmetal + oxygen → nonmetal oxide
S(s) + O2(g) → SO2(g)
6. Metal Oxide + nometal oxide → salt
MgO + SO3 → MgSO4

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 Complete and balance:
Ca + Cl2 →
Fe + O2 → (assume iron (II) oxide is the product)
Al + O2 →
Remember that the first step is to write
the correct formulas – you can still
change the subscripts at this point, but
not later while balancing!
Then balance by changing just the
coefficients only
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 Exercises:

1. calcium + oxygen →
2. copper + sulfur → copper(II) sulfide
3. calcium oxide + water → calcium
hydroxide
4. hydrogen + nitrogen →
5. hydrogen + chlorine →

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 Exercises:

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 Decomposition Reactions
occur when a compound breaks up into the
elements or in a few to simpler compounds
1 Reactant → Product + Product
General Equation: AB → A + B
one reactant breaks apart into two or more
elements or compounds.

Note that energy (heat, sunlight, electricity, etc.) is

usually required

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 Diatomic elements
There are 8 elements that never want to be
alone.
They form diatomic molecules.
H2 , N2 , O2 , F2 , Cl2 , Br2 , I2 , and At2
The –ogens and the –ines
1 + 7 pattern on the periodic table

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1. Hydrates – compounds incorporated with
water molecules
hydrates → unhydrous salt + water
a. CuSO4 + 5H2O → CuSO4 + 5H2O
b. Na2CO3 + 5H2O → Na2CO3 + 10H2O
2. Chlorates – compounds containing the
polyatomic ion ClO3-
Chlorates → chlorides + O2
3. Carbonates → compounds containing the
polyatomic ion CO32-
carbonates → metal oxides + CO2

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4. Hydroxides(base) – compounds
containing –OH
hydroxides → metal oxides + H2O
5. Bicarbonates – compounds containing
HCO3-
bicarbonate → carbonate + CO2 + H2O

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 Decomposition Reactions
We can predict the products if it is
a binary compound (which means
it is made up of only two elements)
–It breaks apart into the elements:
electricity
H2O ⎯ ⎯ ⎯⎯→

HgO ⎯ ⎯→

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 Decomposition Reactions
If the compound has more than
two elements you must be given
one of the products
–The other product will be from
the missing pieces

NiCO3 ⎯ ⎯→ CO2 + ___
H2CO3(aq) → CO2 + ___
heat

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 Exercises

1. barium carbonate →
2. magnesium carbonate →
3. potassium carbonate →
4. zinc hydroxide →
5. Iron(II) hydroxide →

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 Single Replacement Reactions
Single Replacement Reactions occur when
one element replaces another in a
compound.
A metal can replace a metal (+) OR
a nonmetal can replace a nonmetal (-).
element + compound→ product + product
A + BC → AC + B (if A is a metal) OR
A + BC → BA + C (if A is a nonmetal)
(remember the cation always goes first!)

When H2O splits into ions, it splits into

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H and OH- (not H+ and O-2 !!)
+
 Single Replacement Reactions
We can even tell whether or not a single
replacement reaction will happen:
–Because some chemicals are more
“active” than others
–More active replaces less active
Activity Series of Metals
Higher on the list replaces those lower.

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 The “Activity Series” of Metals
Higher Lithium
activity Potassium 1) Metals can replace other
Calcium
Sodium
metals, provided they are
Magnesium above the metal they are
Aluminum
Zinc trying to replace
Chromium (for example, zinc will replace lead)
Iron
Nickel 2) Metals above hydrogen can
Lead
Hydrogen replace hydrogen in acids.
Bismuth
Copper
Mercury 3) Metals from sodium upward
Silver
Lower
Platinum
can replace hydrogen in
activity
Gold water.
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 Single Replacement Reactions
Metals will replace other metals (and they
can also replace hydrogen)
K + AlN →
Zn + HCl →
Think of water as: HOH
– Metals replace the first H, and then
combines with the hydroxide (OH).
Na + HOH →
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 The “Activity Series” of Halogens
Higher Activity Halogens can replace other
Fluorine halogens in compounds,
Chlorine
Bromine
provided they are above the
Iodine halogen they are trying to
Lower Activity replace.
2NaCl(s) + F2(g) → ??? 2NaF(s) + Cl2(g)
MgCl2(s) + Br2(g) → ???Reaction!
No

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 Single Replacement Reactions
Practice:
1. Fe + CuSO4 →

2. Pb + KCl →

3. Al + HCl →

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 Exercises

1. lead + zinc acetate →

2. iron + aluminum oxide →
3. silver nitrate + nickel →
4. sodium bromide + iodine →
5. aluminum bromide + chlorine →

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 4. Double Replacement Reactions
Double Replacement Reactions occur when
a metal replaces a metal in a compound
and a nonmetal replaces a nonmetal in a
compound
Compound + compound → product +
product
AB + CD → AD + CB

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 Double Replacement Reaction
Think about it like “foil”ing in algebra, first
and last ions go together + inside ions go
together
Example:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(s) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Another example:
K2SO4(aq) + Ba(NO3)2(aq) →2 KNO3(aq) +BaSO4(s)

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 Practice
Predict the products. Balance the equation
1. HCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) →
2. CaCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) →
3. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + BaCl2(aq) →
4. FeCl3(aq) + NaOH(aq) →
5. H2SO4(aq) + NaOH(aq) →
6. KOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq) →

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 5. Combustion Reactions
Combustion reactions
occur when a
hydrocarbon reacts with
oxygen gas.
This is also called
burning!!! In order to
burn something you
need the 3 things in the
“fire triangle”:
1) A Fuel (hydrocarbon)
2) Oxygen to burn it with
3) Something to ignite
48 the reaction (spark)
 Combustion Reactions
In general:
CxHy + O2 → CO2 + H2O
Products in combustion are
ALWAYS carbon dioxide and
water. (although incomplete
burning does cause some by-
products like carbon
monoxide)
Combustion is used to heat
homes and run automobiles
(octane, as in gasoline, is
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C8H18)
 Combustion
Example
• C5H12 + 8 O2 → 5 CO2 + 6 H2O
Write the products and balance the
following combustion reaction:
• C10H22 + O2 →

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