CHEMICAL REACTIONS

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 Chemical reactions are processes in which substances, called reactants, are transformed

into different substances, known as products. These reactions involve the breaking and forming of

chemical bonds and are fundamental to the study of chemistry. Chemical reactions are

characterized by changes in energy and the properties of the substances involved.

Types of Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions can be classified into several major types based on the changes that occur:

1. Synthesis (Combination) Reactions

In synthesis reactions, two or more reactants combine to form a single product.

A+B→ABA + B \rightarrow ABA+B→AB

Example: 2H2+O2→2H2O2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O2H2+O2→2H2O

2. Decomposition Reactions

In decomposition reactions, a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances.

AB→A+BAB \rightarrow A + BAB→A+B

Example: 2HgO→2Hg+O22HgO \rightarrow 2Hg + O_22HgO→2Hg+O2

3. Single Displacement (Replacement) Reactions

In single displacement reactions, an element in a compound is replaced by another element.

A+BC→AC+BA + BC \rightarrow AC + BA+BC→AC+B

Example: Zn+2HCl→ZnCl2+H2Zn + 2HCl \rightarrow ZnCl_2 + H_2Zn+2HCl→ZnCl2+H2

4. Double Displacement (Replacement) Reactions

In double displacement reactions, the ions of two compounds exchange places to form two new

compounds.

AB+CD→AD+CBAB + CD \rightarrow AD + CBAB+CD→AD+CB

Example: AgNO3+NaCl→AgCl+NaNO3AgNO_3 + NaCl \rightarrow AgCl + NaNO_3AgNO3

+NaCl→AgCl+NaNO3

5. Combustion Reactions

Combustion reactions involve a substance (usually a hydrocarbon) reacting with oxygen to

produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy (heat and light).

CxHy+O2→CO2+H2OC_xH_y + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2OCxHy+O2→CO2+H2O

Example: CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2OCH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2OCH4+2O2→CO2

+2H2O

6. Redox (Reduction-Oxidation) Reactions

Redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between substances. One substance is oxidized

(loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons).

Oxidation: A→An++ne−\text{Oxidation: } A \rightarrow A^{n+} + ne^-

Oxidation: A→An++ne− Reduction: B+ne−→Bn−\text{Reduction: } B + ne^- \rightarrow B^{n-

}Reduction: B+ne−→Bn−
Example: 2Na+Cl2→2NaCl2Na + Cl_2 \rightarrow 2NaCl2Na+Cl2→2NaCl

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions often involve changes in energy, primarily in the form of heat. These changes

can be categorized as:

 Exothermic Reactions: Reactions that release energy to the surroundings, usually in the

form of heat. The products have lower energy than the reactants.

Example: CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2O+energyCH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O +

\text{energy}CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2O+energy

 Endothermic Reactions: Reactions that absorb energy from the surroundings. The

products have higher energy than the reactants.

Example: N2+O2+energy→2NON_2 + O_2 + \text{energy} \rightarrow 2NON2+O2

+energy→2NO

Factors Affecting Chemical Reactions

Several factors can influence the rate and extent of chemical reactions:

 Concentration: Higher concentration of reactants generally increases the reaction rate.

 Temperature: Increasing temperature usually increases the reaction rate by providing

more energy to the reactants.

 Catalysts: Substances that speed up a reaction without being consumed. They lower the

activation energy needed for the reaction.

  Surface Area: Greater surface area of a reactant can increase the reaction rate.

 Pressure: For reactions involving gases, increasing pressure can increase the reaction rate.

Chemical Equilibrium

In reversible reactions, the reactants can form products, and the products can also revert to

reactants. Chemical equilibrium is the state in which the rate of the forward reaction equals the

rate of the reverse reaction, resulting in constant concentrations of reactants and products.

aA+bB⇌cC+dDaA + bB \rightleftharpoons cC + dDaA+bB⇌cC+dD

The equilibrium constant (KeqK_{eq}Keq) expresses the ratio of the concentrations of products

to reactants at equilibrium:

Keq=[C]c[D]d[A]a[B]bK_{eq} = \frac{[C]^c [D]^d}{[A]^a [B]^b}Keq=[A]a[B]b[C]c[D]d

Applications of Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions are fundamental to many processes in various fields:

 Industrial Processes: Synthesis of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials.

 Biological Systems: Metabolic pathways and enzyme-catalyzed reactions in living

organisms.

 Environmental Science: Understanding and mitigating pollution, recycling processes.

 Energy Production: Combustion of fuels, battery reactions, and nuclear reactions.

Conclusion
Chemical reactions are essential processes that convert reactants into products, involving changes

in chemical bonds and energy. Understanding the types, energy changes, factors affecting rates,

and equilibrium of chemical reactions is crucial for various scientific and industrial applications.