The five basic types of chemical reactions are combination, decomposition, single-replacement, double-

replacement, and combustion. Analyzing the reactants and products of a given reaction will allow you to
place it into one of these categories. Some reactions will fit into more than one category.

Combination Reactions

A combination reaction, also known as a synthesis reaction, is a reaction in which two or more
substances combine to form a single new substance. Combination reactions can also be called synthesis
reactions. The general form of a combination reaction is:

A+B→AB

One combination reaction is two elements combining to form a compound. Solid sodium metal reacts
with chlorine gas to product solid sodium chloride.

2Na(s)+Cl2(g)→2NaCl(s)

Notice that in order to write and balance the equation correctly, it is important to remember the seven
elements that exist in nature as diatomic molecules (H 2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, and I2).

One sort of combination reaction that occurs frequently is the reaction of an element with oxygen to
form an oxide. Metals and nonmetals both react readily with oxygen under most conditions. Magnesium
reacts rapidly and dramatically when ignited, combining with oxygen from the air to produce a fine
powder of magnesium oxide.

2Mg(s)+O2(g)→2MgO(s)

Decomposition Reactions

A decomposition reaction is a reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more simpler
substances. The general form of a decomposition reaction is:

AB→A+B

Most decomposition reactions require an input of energy in the form of heat, light, or electricity.

Binary compounds are compounds composed of just two elements. The simplest kind of decomposition
reaction is when a binary compound decomposes into its elements. Mercury (II) oxide, a red solid,
decomposes when heated to produce mercury and oxygen gas.

2HgO(s)→2Hg(l)+O2(g)

A reaction is also considered to be a decomposition reaction even when one or more of the products is
still a compound. A metal carbonate decomposes into a metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas. For
example, calcium carbonate decomposes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

CaCO3(s)→CaO(s)+CO2(g)
Metal hydroxides decompose on heating to yield metal oxides and water. Sodium hydroxide
decomposes to produce sodium oxide and water.

2NaOH(s)→Na2O(s)+H2O(g)

Single-Replacement Reactions

A single-replacement reaction is a reaction in which one element replaces a similar element in a

compound. The general form of a single-replacement (also called single-displacement) reaction is:

A+BC→AC+B

In this general reaction, element A is a metal and replaces element B, also a metal, in the compound.
When the element that is doing the replacing is a nonmetal, it must replace another nonmetal in a
compound, and the general equation becomes:

Y+XZ→XY+Z

Y is a nonmetal and replaces the nonmetal Z in the compound with X.

Magnesium is a more reactive metal than copper. When a strip of magnesium metal is placed in an
aqueous solution of copper (II) nitrate, it replaces the copper. The products of the reaction are aqueous
magnesium nitrate and solid copper metal.

Mg(s)+Cu(NO3)2(aq)→Mg(NO3)2(aq)+Cu(s)

Many metals react easily with acids, and, when they do so, one of the products of the reaction is
hydrogen gas. Zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce aqueous zinc chloride and hydrogen (see
figure below).

Zn(s)+2HCl(aq)→ZnCl2(aq)+H2(g)

Double-Replacement Reactions

A double-replacement reaction is a reaction in which the positive and negative ions of two ionic
compounds exchange places to form two new compounds. The general form of a double-replacement
(also called double-displacement) reaction is:

AB+CD→AD+CB
In this reaction, A and C are positively-charged cations, while B and D are negatively-charged anions.
Double-replacement reactions generally occur between substances in aqueous solution. In order for a
reaction to occur, one of the products is usually a solid precipitate, a gas, or a molecular compound such
as water.

A precipitate form in a double-replacement reaction when the cations from one of the reactants
combine with the anions from the other reactant to form an insoluble ionic compound. When aqueous
solutions of potassium iodide and lead (II) nitrate are mixed, the following reaction occurs.
2KI(aq)+Pb(NO3)2(aq)→2KNO3(aq)+PbI2(s)
Combustion Reactions

A combustion reaction is a reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen gas, releasing energy in the
form of light and heat. Combustion reactions must involve O2 as one reactant. The combustion of
hydrogen gas produces water vapor (see figure below).

2H2(g)+O2(g)+2H2O(g)

any combustion reactions occur with a hydrocarbon, a compound made up solely of carbon and
hydrogen. The products of the combustion of hydrocarbons are always carbon dioxide and water. Many
hydrocarbons are used as fuel because their combustion releases very large amount of heat energy.
Propane (C3H8) is a gaseous hydrocarbon that is commonly used as the fuel source in gas grills.

C3H8(g)+5O2(g)→3CO2(g)+4H2O(g)

Writing and naming compounds

Rules for Naming Molecular Compounds

 Write the name for both elements.

 Change the ending of the second element to ide.
 Place prefixes in front of each element based on the number of atoms present.
 The prefix 'mono' is only used on the second non-metal in the chemical formula.
 There shouldn't be two vowels in a row. For example, when you have 'mono' in front of 'oxide' it is
written 'monoxide', not 'monooxide'.

Prefixes

mono di tri tetra penta hexa hepta octa non dec

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

What is a cation?

A cation is an ion with positive charge, which means it has more protons (positively-charged particles)
than electrons (negatively-charged particles). Cations are formed when an atom loses one or more
electrons: the loss of the negatively-charged electron(s) results in an overall positive charge.

What is an anion?

An anion is an ion with negative charge, meaning it has more electrons than protons. Anions are formed
when an atom gains one or more electrons: the gain of the negatively-charged electron(s) results in an
overall negative charge.
What is the difference between cations and anions?

The difference between cations and anions is, of course, their charge. But this difference in charge has
an impact on how cations and anions behave and react.

One example is in the process of electrolysis, which involves an electric current passing through a
material and producing a chemical reaction. During electrolysis, the positively charged cations are
attracted to a negatively-charged electrode called a cathode. Anions are attracted to a positively-
charged electrode called an anode.

In chemistry, cations are indicated with a plus sign (+) and anions are indicated with a minus sign (-),
with the number of symbols indicating the number of electrons lost or gained (this is called an atom’s
valence). For example, the symbols Na+ and Ca++ indicate cations, while Cl- indicates an anion.

Where do the words cation and anion come from?

The first records of the words cation and anion in English come from around the 1830s. Cation comes
from the Greek katión, meaning “going down,” and anion comes from the Greek aniṓn, “going up.” The
cat- in cation is a form of cata-, meaning “down” (it’s the same root used in cathode and catalyst). The
an- in anion is a form of ana-, meaning “up” (it’s the same root used in anode). The word ion comes
from the Greek ión, meaning “going,” and was introduced by English physicist and chemist Michael
Faraday in the 1830s.

Remember: the number of electrons in a cation has gone down, resulting in a positive charge. The
number of electrons in an anion has gone up, resulting in a negative charge.

Is oxygen a cation or an anion?

Many elements can take the form of either anions or cations depending on the situation. Oxygen often
exists in a neutral state, but oxygen atoms tend to form anions by gaining two electrons. Atoms of other
elements also tend to form anions, including nitrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, among others. By contrast,
atoms of calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and sodium tend to lose electrons and form cations. Sodium
chloride—what we know as table salt—is actually composed of an anion and a cation (written as
NA+CL-).

How to use cation vs. anion

Remember, cations are positive ions—they are positively charged because they have lost one or more
electrons and therefore have more protons than electrons.

Anions are negative ions—they are negatively charged because they have gained one or more electrons
and therefore have more electrons than protons.

When you’re taking your chemistry test, just remember that cats are always a positive thing.