1 | Genchem Pre-midterm

Types of Chemical Reactions

Basic Types of Chemical Reactions
Chemical Reactions may be classified into four basic types, each involving one or several reactants and products.

SYNTHESIS (OR COMBINATION) REACTIONS

In this type of reaction, two or more reactants combine to form a single product.
A + B → AB
Synthesis can be a combination of a metal and a nonmetal, forming an ionic compound. For example,
2Al (s) + 3Br2 (l) → 2AlBr3 (s)
It can also be a combination of nonmetals, producing a covalent compound. For example,
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
It can be an addition of two compounds such as the reaction between sulfur trioxide and water forming sulfuric acid.
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (aq)
Predicting the Products of Synthesis Reaction
The following general rules can be used in predicting the products of synthesis reaction.
Reaction between a metal and nonmetal will form a binary compound.
Ca (s) + Cl2 (g) → CaCl2 (s)
Metals react with oxygen gas to form metal oxides.
2Ca (s) + O2 (g) → 2CaO (s)
Nonmetals react with oxygen gas to form nonmetal oxides.
C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)
Metal oxides with water will produce metal hydroxides.
CaO (s) + H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (s)
Nonmetal oxides with water will produce oxyacids.
CO2 (g) + H2O (l) → H2CO3 (aq)

DECOMPOSITION (OR ANALYSIS) REACTIONS

This type of Reaction is the reverse of synthesis reactions. The process involves only one reactant dissociating into
two or more products. The products may be the constituent elements of the reactant or simpler compounds derived from the
reactant.
AB (Reactant) → A + B (Product)
An example of this type is the decomposition of an ionic compound like copper (II) chloride into a metal and a nonmetal.
2CuCl2 (s) → 2Cu (s) + Cl2 (g)
A covalent compound may also dissociate into its nonmetallic elements. Such is the case when water undergoes
electrolysis.
2H2O (l) → 2H2 (g) + O2 (g)
Predicting the Products of Decomposition Reaction
Binary compounds separate into elements.
2NaCl → 2Na (s) + Cl2 (g)
Hydroxides decompose to form metal oxides and water.
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2KOH (s) → K2O (s) + H2O (g)

Oxyacids decompose to form nonmetal oxides and water.
H2CO3 (aq) → CO2 (g) + H2O (g)
Metal carbonates decompose to form metal oxides and carbon dioxide gas.
Li2CO3 (s) → Li2O (s) + CO2 (g)
Metal chlorates decompose to form metal chlorides and oxygen gas.
2KClO3 (s) → 2KCl (s) + 3O2 (g)

SINGLE REPLACEMENT (OR SUBSTITUTION) REACTIONS

In a single replacement reaction, one element of a compound is replaced by a different element. This reaction can be
represented as
AB + X → AX + B ; where X is a metal or a nonmetal.
For this type of reaction, a more active free metal can replace a less active one in a compound. The relative reactivities of
several metals are organized in an activity series in such a way that it becomes convenient to determine which between a
pair of metals is more active. From the activity series in the figure, a free metal can replace copper, but not sodium. Thus,
Mg (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
Mg (s) + NaCl (aq) → no reaction
Notice that H is the only nonmetal in the series. All
metals above H are more active and can, therefore,
replace H in acidic compounds. Those below it
cannot replace H in an acid. For example,
Mg (s) + HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
A nonmetal X can also replace another nonmetal in
a compound. For halogens, the reaction is based on
the following series: F > Cl > Br > I. Thus,
2NaBr (aq) + Cl2 (aq) → 2NaCl (aq) + Br2 (g)
NaCl (aq) + Br2 (g) → no reaction.

DOUBLE REPLACEMENT (OR METATHESIS) REACTIONS

This type of reaction occurs when two ionic compounds exchange cations and anions with each other.
AX + BY → AY + BX
An example of this type is the reaction between silver nitrate (AgNO 3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) to form an insoluble silver
chloride (AgCl) precipitate and sodium nitrate (NaNO3).
AgNO3 (aq) + NaCl (aq) → NaNO3 (aq) + AgCl (s)
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Limiting and Excess Reactant

How is the amount of product in a reaction affected by an insufficient quantity of any of the reactants?
In a chemical reaction, an insufficient quantity of any of the reactants will limit the amount of product that forms.
What determines how much product you can make in a chemical reaction?
A limited quantity of any of the reactants that are needed to make a product will limit the amount of product that forms.
Limiting Reagent
limiting reagent, or the reactant that determines the amount of product that can be formed by a reaction.
Excess Reagent
The reactant that is not completely used up in a reaction is called the excess reagent.

Take the reaction: NH3 + O2 NO + H2O. In an experiment, 3.25 g of NH3 are allowed to react
with 3.50 g of O2. Note: Balance the equation first. Show your solution.
Atomic masses:
N=14.01 amu
H=1.01 amu
O=16.0 amu

a. Which reactant is the limiting reagent? O2

b. How much of the excess reactant remains after the reaction? 0.1molNH3
0.19 molNH3 - 0.09molNH3 = 0.1molNH3

Balancing Equation:

 NH3 + O2 NO + H2O
 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO + 6H2O

Reactant Product
N 1 4 1 4
H 3 12 2 12
O 2 10 2 10

Solution: 3.25(4)  13gNH3 ; 3.50(5)  17.5gO2

1 mol NH 3
13 g 4 NH 3 × =0.19 mol NH 3 ( given ) 0.09molNH3 < 0.19 molNH3
68.16 g NH 3
Since NH3 is in excess, O2 is
1 mol O2
17.5 g O2 × =0.22 mol O2 (given) the limiting reagent
80 g O2

4 mol NH 3
0.22 mol O2 × =0.09 mol NH 3 ( needed amount )
10 mol O2

Molar Mass:
 4 NH 3 =14.01 ( 4 ) +1.01 ( 12 )
¿ 56.04+ 12.12
¿ 68.16 g/mol
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 5 O2=16.0(5)
¿ 80 g/mol

Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions

The neutralization reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH) 2]
produces calcium chloride (CaCl2) and water. 2HCl(aq) + Ca(OH)2(s)  2H2O(l) + CaCl2(aq)
If 0.75 grams of Ca(OH)2 is used in the reaction, determine the following:
a. Number of moles of HCl (MM = 36.46 g/mol) needed to completely react with Ca(OH) 2. The
molar mass of Ca(OH)2 is 74.10 g/mol.
1 mol Ca(OH )2 2mol HCl
0.75 gCa(OH )2 × × =0.02 mol HCl
74.10 g Ca(OH )2 1 mol Ca(OH )2

b. Mass of CaCl2 (MM = 110.98 g/mol) formed in the reaction.

1 mol Ca(OH )2 1 mol Ca Cl2 110.98 g Ca Cl2
0.75 gCa(OH )2 × × × =1.12 g Ca Cl2
74.10 g Ca(OH )2 1 mol Ca(OH )2 1 mol Ca Cl2

Balancing Chemical Equations

I. Identify whether the following equations are balanced or unbalanced. Write B if balanced and U if
unbalanced on the blank provided before each number.

U 1.) Fe2O3 + C → Fe + CO2

B 2.) SiO2+2Mg⟶Si+2MgO
U 3.) Fe + O2 → Fe2O3
B 4.) 2Fe + 3 Cl2 → 2FeCl3
B 5.) 2Fe2O3 + 3C → 4Fe + 3 CO2
II. Balance the following equations:
PCl5(s) + H2O(l) → POCl3(l) + HCl(aq)
- PCl5(s) + H2O(l) → POCl3(l) + 2HCl(aq)
Elements Reactants Products
P 1 1
Cl 5 3+2
H 2 2
O 1 1

Ag(s) + H2S(g) + O2(g) → Ag2S(s) + H2O(l)

- 4Ag(s) + 2H2S(g) + O2(g) → 2Ag2S(s) + 2H2O(l)
Elements Reactants Products
Ag 4 4
H 4 4
S 2 2
O 2 2

Cu(s) + HNO3(aq) → Cu(NO3)2(aq) + H2O(l) + NO(g)

- 3Cu(s) + 8HNO3(aq) → 3Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 2NO(g)
Elements Reactants Products
Cu 3 3
H 8 8
N 8 6+2
O 24 18 + 4 + 2

P4(s) + O2(g) → P4O10(s)

- P4(s) + 5O2(g) → P4O10(s)
Elements Reactants Products
P 4 4
O 10 10

H2(g) + I2(s) → HI(s)

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- H2(g) + I2(s) → 2HI(s)

Elements Reactants Products
H 2 2
I 2 2