Types of Chemical Reactions

What is a neutralization reaction?

Acids and bases react with each other to produce salt and water.

This type of chemical reaction is called a neutralization reaction.

The general equation for a neutralization reaction

Acid + Base Salt + Water

A common neutralization reaction carried out in high school is the reaction of hydrochloric
acid with sodium hydroxide.

Hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide Sodium chloride + Water

HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O

All neutralization reactions are also exothermic meaning heat is given off. Hydrogen ions
produced from the acid react with hydroxide ions produced from the base. Energy is released
as new chemical bonds are formed as water is produced.

Hydrogen ion + hydroxide ion water

H+(aq)+ OH-(aq) H2O(l)

Acids and Carbonate Reactions

Key point:

Compounds with a carbonate or CO3 group react with acids to produce carbon dioxide, CO2
gas.

General word equation

Acid + Metal carbonate Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide

All carbonates react with acids to produce salt, water and carbon dioxide gas.

The fizz produced in sherbet is a reaction between a food acid and a carbonate.

The ingredients dissolve in your mouth and react with each other producing the carbon
dioxide fizz.
Acids and metals

What is produced by the action of acids with active metals?

Active metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas and a salt.

The general equation of this type of chemical reaction is

Active metal + acid salt + hydrogen gas

This is an example of a single displacement reaction. One element (the active metal)
displaces another in a compound (the acid). Active metals displace the hydrogen from acids
producing hydrogen gas.

The two most common acids used are hydrochloric acid, HCl and sulfuric acid, H2SO4

Example.

Magnesium + sulfuric acid magnesium sulfate + hydrogen

Mg + H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2

The magnesium displaces the hydrogen from the acid. It's like calling for a single substitution
during a game of basketball. Mg goes on the court and H2 comes off.

Combustion
Combustion is the burning of a fuel with the production of energy or heat

Examples of combustion reactions

1. Cellular respiration

Cellular respiration is the process whereby cells in our bodies obtain energy. Glucose reacts
with oxygen producing carbon dioxide and water with the release of energy.

Glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy

C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

2. The Combustion of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are made up of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain the
elements hydrogen and carbon. Examples are methane, CH4, propane, C3H8, butane, C4H10
and octane, C8H18

Hydrocarbons readily burn or undergo combustion reactions. Combustion may be complete

or incomplete.

Complete combustion of fossil fuels results the production carbon dioxide and water. The
incomplete combustion of fossil fuels results in the formation of carbon monoxide and soot
(carbon).

1. Complete combustion of methane:

Burns with a blue flame

Methane + oxygen carbon dioxide and water

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

2. Incomplete combustion of methane producing carbon monoxide

Methane + oxygen carbon monoxide and water

CH4 + 1.5O2 CO + 2H2O

3. Incomplete combustion of methane producing soot

Burns with a yellow flame

Methane + oxygen carbon and water

CH4 + O2 C + 2H2O

As the amount of oxygen is decreased from a ratio of 2 to 1.5 to 1 in the above three
equations, the combustion products change from carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide to
carbon or soot. As the soot is heated in the flame it produces a yellow flame. In real life there
is a mixture of carbon monoxide and soot from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons
as well as unburnt hydrocarbons.

Decomposition
Decomposition reactions
In a decomposition reaction a chemical substance is broken down into simpler substances.

The general equation for the reaction is AB A+B

Substance AB decomposes or breaks apart producing substances A and B.

Decomposition can be achieved by 1. heat, 2. electricity and 3. a catalyst.

Note: Some extremely unstable chemicals can be set of by sound waves!

Examples of decomposition reactions

1. Thermal decomposition of copper carbonate.

If a test tube containing green copper carbonate is heated in a Bunsen burner the powder turns
black and occasionally jumps as carbon dioxide gas is given off.

Copper carbonate =heat=> Copper oxide + carbon dioxide

CuCO3 =heat=> CuO + CO2

2. The electrolytic decomposition of water

Electrolysis is the process using electrical energy to speed up or cause a chemical reaction.

Pure water is a poor electrical conductor. Sodium sulfate salt or sulfuric acid needs to be
added to the water first. Note: DO NOT use sodium chloride salt or hydrochloric acid as toxic
chlorine gas is produced!

Two inert electrodes (carbon or platinum) are placed into the water and are connected to an
external D.C power pack or series of batteries. Hydrogen gas is produced at the negative
electrode and oxygen gas at the positive electrode in a ratio of 2:1.

Water =electrolysis=> Hydrogen and Oxygen

2H2O =electrolysis=> 2H2 + O2

3. The catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up in the
reaction.

Hydrogen peroxide is broken done quite rapidly into oxygen gas and water when a catalyst
like potassium iodide or manganese dioxide is added. Potassium iodide salt is preferred if
available as it makes less mess. The black manganese dioxide powder is difficult to clean up.

One to two spatulas of potassium iodide salt is added to a conical flask containing 50mL of
5% hydrogen peroxide solution. The solution is gently mixed and bubbles of gas are observed
to form. If a glowing splint is placed into the conical flask it will re-ignite due to the
production of oxygen gas.

Hydrogen peroxide =catalyst=> Oxygen and water

2H2O2 =catalyst=> O2 + 2H2O

Displacement
Displacement reactions
Metals differ in their chemical reactivities. Magnesium is more reactive than zinc and zinc is
more reactive than iron.

Metals can be placed in order of decreasing chemical activity. This is called the activity series
of metals.

Activity series of metals

Metal ion Metal Symbol

Mg2+ Magnesium Mg Most active metal

Zn2+ Zinc Na

Fe2+ Iron Fe

Pb2+ Lead Pb

Cu2+ Copper Cu

Ag+ Silver Ag Least active metal

An active metal will displace the ion of a less active metal from solution.

A metal higher on the table will react with a metal ion solution lower on the table.

An example of a displacement reaction is placing a piece of steel wool into a solution of

copper sulfate.

Note: Don't use the commercial brands of steel wool that are protected from rusting. They
will not react.

The steel wool is turned into pink copper wool. Over time the solution also loses its blue
color and turns olive green.

Iron (steel wool) + Copper sulfate Iron sulfate + Copper

Fe + CuSO4 FeSO4 + Cu

Copper sulfate CuSO4 is blue

Iron(II) sulfate, FeSO4 is olive green

Copper metal, Cu is pink

The reaction is also exothermic producing heat.

Precipitation
Precipitation reactions
In a precipitation reaction two solutions are mixed together resulting in the formation of an
insoluble solid called the precipitate.

Each of the solutions is composed of positive and negative ions. By convention the metallic
ion is always named first. eg. sodium chloride is composed of positive sodium ions, Na+ and
negative chloride ions, Cl-

In a precipitation reaction there is an exchange of partners creating a new set of positive and
negative ions.

One group of these ions becomes more attracted to each other than they do to the water
molecules. This produces an insoluble compound called the precipitate. The other set of
positive and negative ions remains in solution.

Analogy of two couples on a dance floor.

Boys = (+) metallic ions and girls = (-) negative ions.

Fred and Jill + Jack and Wilma Fred and Wilma + Jack and Jill

On the dance floor there is a change of partners. Fred and Wilma are strongly attracted to
each other. They leave their partners and unite together in a new relationship due to their
strong attraction to one another. They form the solid precipitate. Jack and Jill, however, never
quick make it together as an item. They are more strongly attracted to the water molecules
than to each other.

Physical states:

(aq) = aqueous or dissolved in water.

(s) = solid
Colorful Precipitation reactions

1. Sodium hydroxide + silver nitrate sodium nitrate + silver hydroxide

NaOH(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + AgOH(s)

The precipitate is brown.

Note: Ag(OH)2 actually becomes Ag2O in aqueous solution.

2. Sodium hydroxide + copper sulfate sodium sulfate + copper hydroxide

2NaOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq) Na2SO4(aq) + Cu(OH)2(s)

A blue gelatinous precipitate of copper hydroxide, Cu(OH)2 is produced.

3. Potassium iodide + lead nitrate potassium nitrate + lead iodide

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

A bright yellow precipitate of lead iodide, PbI2 is produced.

4. Potassium iodide + mercury nitrate mercury iodide + potassium nitrate

2KI(aq) + Hg(NO3)2(aq) HgI2(s) + KNO3(aq)

A bright orange precipitate of mercury iodide, PbI2 is produced.

Redox
Reduction oxidation reactions
Reduction oxidation reactions are called redox reactions. They involve the transfer of
electrons from one species to another and are represented by two half equations, the oxidation
half equation and the reduction half equation.

Oxidation half equation: Eg. Mg Mg2+ + 2e- OIL: Oxidation Is Loss of electrons by
a chemical species. The Mg species loses electrons and is oxidised.
Reduction half equation: Eg. Cu2+ + 2e- Cu RIG: Reduction Is Gain of electrons
2+
by a species. The Cu ion gains electrons and is reduced.

Notice the electrons, symbol e-, are on different sides of the two equations in equal numbers.

Oxidation reduction reactions always occur together. One chemical species loses electrons
and the other species gains electrons.

The resulting net reaction is called a redox reaction. Eg. Mg + Cu2+ Mg2+ + Cu

A galvanic cell is a device which separates these two half reactions allowing the electrons to
flow through an external wire. We call this device a battery.

Synthesis Reaction

The word 'synthesis' means to put together.

In a synthesis reaction two substances combine to produce a single product.

The general chemical equation for a synthesis reaction is A + B AB

The reaction of a metal with a non-metal to produce a compound is an example of a synthesis

reaction.

Examples of synthesis reactions

1. The burning of magnesium metal

If a piece of magnesium ribbon is ignited a very bright light is given off and a white powder
or ash is produced/ Note: the burning of magnesium produces UV light which may damage
the eyes if looked upon directly. Wear safety goggles and do not directly look at the light.

Magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide

2Mg + O2 2MgO

2. The reaction of sodium with chlorine

If a piece of sodium metal is melted in a deflagrating spoon and placed into a gas jar
containing chlorine gas a violent reaction occurs. If the jar is observed crystals of sodium
chloride salt are seen which have formed on the sides of the glass.

Sodium + chlorine sodium chloride

2Na + Cl2 2NaCl

3. The reaction of aluminum with bromine

Aluminum is resistant towards reaction because of a tough impermeable oxide layer which
strongly adheres to the metal. If however, a sheet of aluminum foil is scratched with steel
wool the aluminum is exposed it will react violently with pure liquid bromine

Aluminum + bromine aluminum bromide

2Al + 3Br2 2AlBr3

4. The burning of iron

A nail will not react when heated over a Bunsen burner. However, if the surface area of the
iron is increased by using steel wool a reaction is seen to occur. Increasing the surface area
increases the rate of reaction.

Iron + oxygen iron(II) oxide

2Fe + O2 2FeO

Examples of acid and carbonate reactions

1. Hydrochloric acid + sodium carbonate sodium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

2HCl + Na2CO3 2NaCl + H2O + CO2

2. Sulfuric acid + copper carbonate copper sulfate + water + carbon dioxide

H2SO4 + CuCO3 CuSO4 + H2O + CO2

3. Nitric acid + magnesium carbonate magnesium nitrate + water + carbon dioxide

2HNO3 + MgCO3 Mg(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2

4. Acetic acid + sodium hydrogen carbonate sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide

CH3COOH + NaHCO3 CH3COONa + H2O + CO2