Reaction

Types

Complete Combustion
Oxygen combines with a hydrocarbon to
form water and carbon dioxide and
produces heat.

General form: CxHx + O2 CO2 + H2O

Example: C6H12O6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

Incomplete Combustion
Oxygen combines with a hydrocarbon to
form water and carbon monoxide and
produces heat.

General form: CxHx + O2 CO + H2O

Example: C8H18 + O2 CO + H2O

Synthesis/Combination
Two or more simple compounds combine to
form a more complicated one.

General form: A + B AB

Example Ca + C + O2 CaCO3

Decomposition
A complex molecule breaks down to make
simpler ones (opposite of a synthesis
reaction).

General form: AB A + B
Example: 2H2O 2H2 + O2

Single Displacement
One element trades places with another
element in a compound.

General form: A + BC AC + B

Example: Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2

Double Displacement
The anions and cations of two compounds
swap, making two new compounds.

General form: AB + CD AD + CB

Ex: Pb(NO3)2 + 2KI PbI2 + 2KNO3