Unit 9-

Chemical
Reactions
A. Balancing Equations
Symbols Used in Chemical Equations

• States of Matter:
• (s) = solid
• (l) = liquid
• (g) = gas
• (aq) = aqueous
•
Reaction Symbols:
• + combines/reacts/and
• → produces/forms/yields
• Δ (over arrow) = heated
Balancing Equations

Remember the Law of Conservation of Mass?

Must have same number of atoms of each element on both sides of a chemical equation!

Ex 1 ___ Na + ___ Cl2 → ___ NaCl

Ex 2 ___ CuCl2 + ___ Na3PO4 → ___ NaCl + ___ Cu3(PO4)2

Balancing Chemical Equations
1. Determine the correct formulas for each reactant and product.
2. Write the formulas for the reactants on the left and the products on the
right with arrow in between.
3. Count the number of atoms of each element on either side of the arrow.
If a polyatomic ion is unchanged on both sides, count it as a single unit.
4. Balance the elements one at a time using coefficients. Do not change
the subscripts!
5. Check each atom or polyatomic ion to be sure that the equation is
balanced.
6. Make sure that all coefficients are in the lowest possible ratio.
7. When balancing combustion reactions, balance hydrogen first (double
the coefficient in front of H2O if odd), carbon second, and oxygen last.
Writing Equations from Word Equations
In a precipitation reaction, sodium hydroxide solution is mixed with iron(II) chloride
solution. Sodium Chloride solution and insoluble iron(II) hydroxide are produced. Write a
balanced chemical equation including the state symbols.

Solution:
• Step 1: Identify reactants and products and place them in a word equation.
sodium hydroxide + iron(II) chloride → sodium chloride + iron(II) hydroxide

• Step 2: Convert the chemical names into chemical formulas. Place them based on the
chemical equation and write the state symbols.

• Step 3: Balance the chemical equation.

2NaOH(aq) + FeCl2(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + Fe(OH)2(s)
B. Reaction Types Part 1
5 Types of Reactions

• Synthesis (Combination)
• Decomposition
• Single Replacement/Displacement
• Double Replacement/Displacement
• Combustion (of Hydrocarbons)
 Synthesis
(Combination)
Reactions
• Formation of a single product from 2+ reactants
• Patterns to Use :
• Element + element → binary compound
• Metal oxide + water → metal hydroxide (base)
• Nonmetal oxide + water → oxyacid (H + PAI)
Combination Reaction-AKA: synthesis,
composition reactions):

• two or more substances react to form a single

compound

• A + B ------> AB
MgO(s) + H2O(l) ------>Mg(OH)2 (s)
Decomposition:
• a single compound is broken down into two or more products. Most
decomposition reactions require energy in the form of heat, light or electricity

AB à A+B
• 2H2O(l) electr> 2H2 (g)+ O2(g)
Decomposition: 7 Types
1. Chlorates: 2 KClO3 -->2 KCl + 3 O2
(metallic chloride)
2. Oxides: 2 HgO -->2 Hg +O2

3. Carbonates :
a) K2CO3 --> K2O + CO2
(metallic oxide)
b) (NH4)2CO3 --> 2NH3 + CO2 + H2O

4. Hydroxides: Ca(OH)2 --> CaO + H2O

(metallic oxide)
Decomposition: 7 Types :

5. Unstable Acids: H2CO3 --> CO2 + H2O

6. Electrolysis: 2 H2O(l) electr>2 H2 (g)+ O2(g)

7. Peroxides:
a) 2 H2O2 --KI -->2 H2O + O2

b) 2Na2O2 ---> 2Na2O + O2

(metallic peroxide) (metallic oxide)
Single replacement: AKA single
displacement

atoms of one element replace atoms of

another element in a compound. The
free element must be MORE reactive than
the element in the compound or reaction
will not occur

(See Table J!)

Single replacement: (also called single
displacement)

Cationic: A + BC --->B + AC
Cu(s) + AgNO3(aq) --->Ag(s) + CuNO3(aq)

Anionic: A + BC----> C + BA
Cl2 (g) + 2NaBr (aq) ----> Br2(l) + 2NaCl (aq)

ØReactive metals can also replace H in

acids:
Mg + 2HCl à MgCl2 + H2

ØVery reactive metals can replace H in H2O:

2Na + 2H2O à 2NaOH + H2
Single Replacement Reaction
• An element replaces another in a compound

• Remember:
• METALS can replace METALS (or H)
• NONMETALS can only replace NONMETALS

• Must use ACTIVITY SERIES to determine whether

reaction will occur – element must be MORE
REACTIVE than the element it’s replacing.
Activity Series

• Lists elements from most reactive (top) to

least reactive (bottom)

• Elements will only replace other elements that

are LOWER in the activity series!

• There are 2 SEPARATE activity series –

halogens won’t replace metals!
How to Predict Products
1. Determine the reaction type.

2. Follow the pattern on your reference

table!

a. Remember to “criss-cross” to get

product formulas - don’t just
“carry” subscripts from one side
to the other.

b. AFTER you have the correct

formulas, balance the equation!
C. Reaction Types Part 2
Double Replacement Reactions: (exchange of ions)

• these reactions involve an exchange of ions

between two ionic compounds. One of the products
will leave reaction environment as either a precipitate (see
table F !), insoluble gas or new molecular species (H2O)
AB + CD------> AD + CB
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl (aq) -----> AgCl (s) + NaNO3(aq)
Complete Ionic Equation
ØAn equation that shows dissolved
ionic compounds as their free ions—
do not separate solids, liquids or
gases– only (aq)!
ØIndicates only the particles that
actually take part in the reaction
(spectator ions have been removed)
ØThe atoms and charges must be
balanced (on both sides of the
equation)
Net Ionic
Equation
• Indicates only the particles
that actually take part in
the reaction (spectator ions
have been removed)
• The atoms and charges
must be balanced (on both
sides of the equation)
Spectator Ions

Ions that are not directly involved in a

reaction (only watch or “spectate!”)

They appear unchanged on both sides

of a complete ionic equation

Are not part of the net ionic equation

Write the complete ionic equation of the following
reaction:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) à AgCl( ) + NaNO3( )

AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) à AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Ag+ (aq) + NO3 -(aq) + Na +(aq) + Cl -(aq) à

AgCl(s) + Na +(aq) + NO3 -(aq)

Combustion:
• when an element or a compound reacts with
oxygen, usually producing energy in the
form of heat or light. If combustion is
complete, the products will be CO2 and H2O.
• (Fuel) + O2 (g) + △heat à CO2 (g)+ H2O (l)
• 2 CH3OH (l) + 3 O2 (g) △heat à2 CO2 (g)+4
H2O(l)
 Combustion (of Hydrocarbon)

• Technically, ANY reaction with oxygen gas is

combustion…but we usually focus on the combustion of
hydrocarbons.
• Only 1 pattern to know:
• Hydrocarbon + O2 → H2O + CO2
• The complete combustion of ANY pure hydrocarbon will
produce CO2 and H2O – you just have to balance!
• Incomplete combustion typically produces CO instead of
CO2 - usually due to not enough oxygen.
How to Predict Products
1. Determine the reaction type.

2. Follow the pattern on your reference

table!

a. Remember to “criss-cross” to get

product formulas - don’t just
“carry” subscripts from one side
to the other.

b. AFTER you have the correct

formulas, balance the equation!
D. Oxidation Reduction Reactions
Redox = Reduction and Oxidation
Electrons are transferred

LEO SAYS GER : LOSS OF ELECTRONS GAIN OF ELECTRONS

= OXIDATION = REDUCTION
Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers Rules 1 & 2

1. The oxidation number of any uncombined

element is zero

2. The oxidation number of a monatomic ion

equals its charge
Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers Rules 3 & 4

3. The oxidation number of oxygen in

compounds is -2 except in peroxides when
it is -1 and with fluorine when it is +2.

4. The oxidation number of hydrogen in

compounds is +1 except in hydrides when
it is -1.
Rules for Assigning Oxidation Number Rule 5

5. The sum of the oxidation numbers

in the formula of a compound is 0
+1 -2 +2 -2 +1
H2O Ca(O H ) 2
2(+1) + (-2) = 0 (+2) + 2(-2) + 2(+1) = 0
H O Ca O H
Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers Rule 6

6. The sum of the oxidation numbers in the

formula of a polyatomic ion is equal to
its charge
? -2 ? -2
- 2-
N O3 S O4
X + 3(-2) = -1 X + 4(-2) = -2
N O S O

\ X = +5 \ X = +6
Not All Reactions are Redox Reactions !

Reactions in which there has been

no change in oxidation number are
not redox rxns.
Examples:
+1 +5 -2 +1 -1 +1 -1 +1 +5 -2
Ag N O 3 (aq ) + Na Cl (aq ) ® Ag Cl ( s ) + Na N O 3 (aq )
+1 -2 +1 +1 +6 -2 +1 +6 -2 +1 -2
2 Na O H (aq ) + H 2 S O 4 (aq ) ® + Na 2 S O 4 (aq ) + H 2 O(l )
 Oxidation Reduction Reactions
(Redox)
0 0 +1 -1
2 Na + Cl 2 ® 2 Na Cl
Each sodium atom loses one electron:
0 +1
-
Na ® Na + e
Each chlorine molecule gains two electron:
0 -1
-
Cl 2 + 2e ® 2Cl
 LEO says GER :
Lose Electrons = Oxidation

0 +1
-
Na ® Na + e Sodium is oxidized

Gain Electrons = Reduction

0 -1
-
Cl 2 + 2e ® 2Cl Chlorine is reduced
Reducing Agents and Oxidizing Agents

The substance reduced is the oxidizing agent

The substance oxidized is the reducing agent

0 +1
-
Na ® Na + e
Sodium atom is oxidized – it is the reducing agent
0 -1
-
Cl 2 + 2e ® 2Cl
Chlorine is reduced – it is the oxidizing agent
 Trends in Oxidation and
Reduction
Active metals:
Lose electrons easily
Are easily oxidized
Are strong reducing agents

Active nonmetals:
Gain electrons easily
Are easily reduced
Are strong oxidizing agents
E. Chemical Potential Energy
Keeping Track of Energy During Chemical Change- Modeling Approach
ØUse energy bar diagrams to represent energy accounts at various stages of
reaction
ØProvide mechanism for change
ØConnect thermal and chemical potential energy
ØFocus on what is happening during the course of the reaction
Endothermic reaction
Ø This is the standard energy diagram found in
most texts.
Ø But it doesn’t tell the whole story
Ø How do you know on which side to write
the energy term?
Ø If you had to supply energy to the
reactants, the products store more Ech than
the reactants
Ø energy + CaCO3 ® CaO + CO2 (g)
Consider role of Eth
Ø How does heating the reactants result in an
increase in Ech?
Ø Energy to rearrange atoms in molecules must
come from collisions of molecules
Ø Low energy collisions are unlikely to produce
molecular rearrangement
Heating system increases Eth
• Hotter, faster molecules (surroundings) transfer energy to colder,
slower molecules (system)
• Now reactant molecules are sufficiently energetic to produce reaction

Now reaction proceeds….

Ø During collisions, particles trade Eth
for Ech as products are formed
Ø After rearrangement, resulting
particles move more slowly (lower
Eth).
Consider all steps in process
• Heating system increases Eth of reactant molecules
• Energy is transferred from Eth to Ech now stored in new arrangement of atoms
Exothermic Reaction
This is the standard energy
diagram found in most texts.
But, again, it doesn’t tell the
whole story.
How do you know on which
side to write the energy term?
ØIf energy flows from
system to surroundings,
then the products must
store less Ech than the
reactant
CH4 + 2O2 ® CO2 + 2H2O +
energy
Consider role of Eth
• Now take into account changes in Eth
• When reactant molecules collide to produce products that store less energy, new
molecules move away more rapidly

Exothermic reaction
System is now hotter than surroundings;
energy flows out of system until thermal
equilibrium is re-established
Consider all steps in process
ØDecrease in Ech results in increased Eth
ØSystem is now hotter than surroundings
ØEnergy eventually moves from system to surroundings via heating