Inorganic Chemistry –Week 4

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances are converted into new substances
with different physical and chemical properties.
Clues to a Chemical Reaction
 Color change
 Formation of a solid (ppt)
 Formation of a gas (bubbles)
 Heat and/or flame is produced or absorbed
Exothermic: refers to a rxn where energy (as heat) flows from the system (HOT)
Endothermic: refers to a rxn where energy (as heat) flows into system (COLD)
Chemical reactions are represented by sentences known as chemical equations. A chemical equation
describes exactly what happens in a chemical reaction. A chemical equation shows compounds before
a chemical reaction takes place on the left (reactants) and compounds formed from the chemical
reaction on the right (products).
Reactants  Products
The arrow in the equation is read as “yields” or “produces”

Chemical equations can be

1. Word Equations
Ex) calcium + oxygen  calcium oxide
2. Formula Equations (Chemical Equations): uses chemical symbols and formulas
Ex) 2Ca + O2  2CaO

BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

Notice that in a chemical reaction, ATOMS ARE NEITHER CREATED NOR DESTROYED, THEY
ARE CONSERVED (Law of Conservation of Matter). The atoms are just rearranged and connected
differently. All atoms present in the reactants must be accounted for among the products. In other words,
there must be the same number of each type of atom on the product side as on the reactant side of the
arrow. This is called BALANCING THE CHEMICAL EQUATION for the reaction. When balancing an
equation the identities (formulas) of the compounds must never be changed. In other words, the subscripts
in the formula cannot be changed, nor can atoms be added or subtracted from a formula. The correct way
to balance is to use COEFFICIENTS: the number in front of a chemical formula (must be simplest
integers).
Ex) K(s) + H2O(l)  H2(g) + KOH(aq)
Ex) H2(g) + O2(g)  H2O(l)
Ex) NH3(g) + O2(g)  NO(g) + H2O(g)
Ex) SiO2(s) + HF(aq)  SiF4(g) + H2O(l)
Inorganic Chemistry –Week 4

Types of Chemical Reactions

1. Synthesis Reactions (Combinaition Reactions) - Two or more substances combine to form a single
more complex substance.
Element or compound + element or compound  compound
A + X  AX
Ex) Fe + S  FeS Ex) H2O + SO3  H2SO4
2. Decomposition Reactions - One substance breaks down to form two or more simpler substances.
Compound  two or more elements or compounds
AX  A + X
Ex) 2H2O  2H2 + O2 Ex) 2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2
3. Single Replacement Reactions - One substance is replaced in its compound by another substance.
Element reacts with a compound to set free a different element and form a new compound.
Element + compound  element + compound
A + BX  AX + B
Y + BX  X + BY
Ex) Fe + CuSO4  FeSO4 + Cu Ex) Cu + AgNO3  Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag
1. Double Displacement Reactions (Ionic Exchange Reactions)
Ions in solution combine to form a new product
Two compounds react (usually in a water solution) to produce two new compounds.
For ionic reaction to occur a product must form that separates ions from the reaction by
creating a precipitate (solubility rules), an insoluble gas, or a new species.
compound AB + compound CD  compound AD + compound CB
AX + BY  AY + BX
Ex) NaCl + AgNO3  NaNO3 + AgCl(ppt)
Ex) Pb(NO3)2 + KI  PbI2(ppt) + KNO3

Ex) Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4  2HOH + CaSO4

5. Combustion Reactions - is a reaction of a carbon-based compound (Hydrocarbon) with oxygen.

Carbon-based cmpd + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water

Carbon-based cmpd + O2  CO2 + H2O
Ex) C3H8(g) + 5O2(g)  3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)

Ex) CH3CH2OH(l) + 3O2(g)  2CO2(g) + 3H2O(g)