TYPES OF REACTION

Chemical reactions can be grouped into the following types

• Direct combination reaction.
• Decomposition reaction and thermal dissociation.
• Displacement reaction.
• Double decomposition or precipitation reaction.
• Neutralization reaction.
• Reversible reaction.
• Catalytic reaction.
• Redox reaction.

Direct Combination reaction

This is a type of reaction in which two or more elements combine to form a compound.
C + O2 CO2
4Fe + 3O2 2Fe2O3
Also in this reaction, two compounds can combine to form a heavier compound.
PbO2 + SO2 PbSO4

Decomposition reaction
In decomposition reaction, a compound breaks up or decomposes to produce two or more
elements or compounds. If the decomposition process involves heating, it is called thermal
decomposition or thermal dissociation.
CaCO3 CaO + CO2
2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2

Displacement reaction
Here, an element displaces another element or radical from its compound. usually, the element
displaced is lower than the one displacing it in the activity series.
CuSO4 + Zn ZnSO4 + Cu
Blue solution powder colourless solution brown solid
Double decomposition or precipitation reaction
In double decomposition reaction, the cations or metallic radicals of two compounds exchange
radicals. This type of reaction is used to prepare insoluble salts

AgNO3 + NaCl AgCl + NaNO3

Neutralization reaction
This is a reaction between an acid and a base to form salt and water only.
HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O
Acid Base Salt Water

Reversible reaction
This type of reaction can proceed in both the forward and backward direction depending on the
conditions of the reaction. It is represented using a forward and backward arrow ( )
N2(g) + H2(g) NH3(g)

Catalytic reaction
This is a reaction that makes use of a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of a
chemical reaction but remains chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.
MnO2
2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2; MnO2 is a catalyst.
Acceleration or retardation of reaction is known as catalysis.
Types of Catalysis
• Homogeneous Catalysis: In homogeneous catalysis, the reactant, product and catalyst
are in the same phase.
• Heterogeneous Catalysis: In heterogeneous Catalysis, the reactant, product and catalyst
are in different phases.
• Bio-catalysis: This makes use of enzymes to catalyze specific chemical reactions outside
living cells. Enzymes are organic catalysts that speed up or slow down rate of chemical
reaction in living cells.
 • Positive Catalysis: In positive catalysis, the catalyst speeds up the rate of the chemical
reaction.
MnO2
2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2; MnO2 is a positive catalyst.
• Negative Catalysis: In negative catalysis, the catalyst slows down the rate of the
chemical reaction.
H3PO4
2H2O2 H2O + O2; H3PO4 is a negative catalyst.
NB: Promoters and Inhibitors are not catalysts but increase and decrease the rate of chemical
reactions respectively.

Properties of a Catalyst
• It alters the rate of a chemical reaction.
• It remains chemically unchanged in mass and composition at the end of the reaction.
• It is specific in action.
• It has no effect on the equilibrium of a reversible reaction.
• It does not start a reaction.
• It affects the rate of chemical reaction irrespective of the quantity present.
• The effect of solid catalysts increases with increase in surface area.
Redox Reaction
This is a reaction in which oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously. Oxidation and
reduction is defined in different terms

In terms of addition or removal of oxygen

Addition of oxygen implies oxidation while removal of oxygen implies reduction. The specie
from which oxygen is removed is said to be reduced and is called the oxidizing agent, the specie
to which oxygen is added is said to be oxidized and is called the reducing agent.
Reduced Oxidized
CuO + H2 Cu + H2O
Oxidizing agent Reducing agent
In the above equation, H2 is oxidized to H2O and CuO is reduced to Cu.

In terms of addition or removal of hydrogen

Addition of hydrogen implies reduction while removal of hydrogen implies oxidation. The
specie from which hydrogen is removed is said to be oxidized and is called the reducing agent,
the specie to which hydrogen is added is said to be reduced and is called the oxidizing agent.
Oxidized Reduced
H2S + Cl2 S + HCl
Reducing agent Oxidizing agent
In the above equation, H2S is oxidized to S while Cl2 is reduced to HCl.

NB: An oxidizing agent is a substance that donates or transfers oxygen to another substance or
removes hydrogen from the substance while a reducing agent is a substance that transfers
hydrogen to another substance or removes oxygen from the substance.
A substance can be a reducing agent in a particular reaction and an oxidizing agent in another
reaction. Therefore, to state whether a substance is a reducing or oxidizing agent, the reaction in
question must be mentioned.
In terms of addition or removal of electronegative elements
Electronegative elements are elements that attract electron to themselves (accept electrons).
Since they behave like oxygen (oxygen also accept electrons), they are said to be oxygen-like
elements. Eg F, Cl, Br, S etc.
Like oxygen, addition of electronegative element to a substance implies oxidation while removal
of electronegative element from a substance implies reduction.
Reduced oxidized
2FeCl3(aq) + H2(g) → 2FeCl2(aq) + 2HCl(aq)
Oxidizing agent Reducing agent

In terms of addition or removal of electropositive elements

Electropositive elements are elements that donate or loose electron to other elements/substances.
Since they behave like hydrogen (hydrogen also donates electrons) they are said to be hydrogen
like elements. Eg Na, Cu etc
Like hydrogen, addition of electropositive element implies reduction while removal of
electropositive element implies oxidation.
Oxidized Reduced
3Mg + N2 Mg3N2
Reducing agent Oxidizing agent

In terms of oxidation number

The oxidation state of an element in a compound is indicated by the oxidation number.
The oxidation number of an element in a compound is the charge which the element bears in the
compound. The oxidation number of an element is not necessarily constant and can vary
depending on the compound. An increase in oxidation number implies oxidation while a
decrease in oxidation number implies reduction.
Calculation of Oxidation number
Rules
• Atoms in their elemental form or uncombined state have oxidation number of Zero. Eg,
Na, Cu etc.
• Neutral molecules have oxidation number of Zero. Eg, Cl2, O2 etc.
• Monoatomic ions have oxidation number equal to the charge on their ion. Eg. Cu2+ has
oxidation number of +2 and Cl- has oxidation number of -1.
• Oxygen has an oxidation number of -2 except in peroxides where it has oxidation number
of -1. Eg. Na2O2
• Hydrogen has oxidation number of +1 except in metallic hydride where it has oxidation
number of -1. Eg. NaH
• The sum of the oxidation number of all the elements in a compound is zero.
• The sum of the oxidation number of all atoms in an ion or radical is equal to the charge
on the ion or radical. Eg. MnO4-

Calculation examples
Calculate the oxidation number of
N in HNO3
+1 x -2
H N O3
1 + x + (-2*3) = 0
1+x–6=0
x–5=0
x = +5

Mn in MnO4-
x -2
Mn O4
x + (-2*4) = -1
x – 8 = -1
x = +7
Ex.
Calculate the oxidation number of
S in H2SO4
C in H2CO3
Mn in KMnO4
Cr in K2Cr2O7
P in H3PO4

Equation examples
Reduced Oxidized
Cu2+ + Zn Zn2+ + Cu
Oxidizing agent Reducing agent

Ex.
In the equation below, determine which of the species is
• Oxidized
• Reduced
• The oxidizing agent
• Reducing agent
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
Determine the change in oxidation number of Mn in the equation below
KMnO4 + H2SO4 + FeSO4 MnSO4 + K2SO4 + Fe2(SO4)3 + H2O

Balancing of redox equation

Example 1
Balance the redox equation below
Al + Ni2+ Al3+ + Ni
Step 1: Divide the overall equation into the oxidation and reduction half cell equations and
balance the charges.
Al Al3+ + 3e-………….1
Ni2+ + 2 e- Ni…………..2
Step 2: Balance and eliminate the electrons in both equations
That is Equation 1x 2 and equation 2x 3
2Al 2Al3+ + 6e-
3Ni2+ + 6e- 3Ni

Step 3: Add the half cell equations to get the overall equation
2Al 2Al3+
3Ni2+ 3Ni
2Al + 3Ni2+ 2Al3+ + 3Ni

Ex
Balance the redox equation below
• Fe + Cu2+ Fe2+ + Cu
• Ag + Ni2+ Ag+ + Ni

Balancing of redox equation in Acidic medium and basic medium

NB: Water (H2O) is used to balance Oxygen (O) and Hydrogen ion (H+) is used to balance
hydrogen (H).
Example 1
Balance the redox equation below in both acidic and basic medium.
In acidic medium
Zn + BrO3- Zn2+ + Br-
Step 1: Divide the overall equation into the oxidation and reduction half cell equations.
Zn Zn2+
BrO3- Br-
Step 2: Balance hydrogen and oxygen
Zn Zn2+
BrO3- + 6H+ Br- + 3H2O
Step 3: Balance the charges with electrons
Zn Zn2+ + 2e- ………………………..1
BrO3- + 6H+ + 6e- Br- + 3H2O……………2
Step 4: Balance and eliminate the electrons
That is; multiply equation 1 by 3
3Zn 3Zn2+ + 6e-
BrO3- + 6H+ + 6e- Br- + 3H2O
Step 5: Combine the half cell equations to get the overall equation
3Zn 3Zn2+
BrO3- + 6H+ Br- + 3H2O
3Zn + BrO3- + 6H+ 3Zn2+ + Br- + 3H2O

In basic medium
Zn + BrO3- Zn2+ + Br-
Step 1: Divide the overall equation into the oxidation and reduction half cell equations.
Zn Zn2+
BrO3- Br-
Step 2: Balance hydrogen and oxygen
Zn Zn2+
BrO3- + 6H+ Br- + 3H2O
Step 3: Balance the charges with electrons
Zn Zn2+ + 2e- ………………………..1
BrO3- + 6H+ + 6e- Br- + 3H2O……………2
Step 4: Balance and eliminate the electrons
That is; multiply equation 1 by 3
3Zn 3Zn2+ + 6e-
BrO3- + 6H+ + 6e- Br- + 3H2O
Step 5: Combine the half cell equations to get the overall equation
3Zn 3Zn2+
BrO3- + 6H+ Br- + 3H2O
3Zn + BrO3- + 6H+ 3Zn2+ + Br- + 3H2O; the balanced equation in acidic medium
Step 6: Balance the H+ by adding equal values of OH- for every H+ on both sides of the equation
3Zn + BrO3- + 6H+ + 6OH- 3Zn2+ + Br- + 3H2O + 6OH-
Step 7: Combine the H+ and OH- to form water and balance the water on both sides of the
equation.
3Zn + BrO3- + 6H2O 3Zn2+ + Br- + 3H2O + 6OH-
3Zn + BrO3- + 6H2O - 3H2O 3Zn2+ + Br- + 3H2O - 3H2O + 6OH-
3Zn + BrO3- + 3H2O 3Zn2+ + Br- + 6OH-; the balanced equation in basic medium

Example 2
Balance the redox equation below
Al + ClO4- Al(OH)4- + Cl-
Step 1: Divide the overall equation into the oxidation and reduction half cell equations.
Al Al(OH)4-
ClO4- Cl-
Step 2: Balance the OH-, O and H
Al + 4OH- Al(OH)4-
ClO4- + 8H+ Cl- + 4H2O
Step 3: Balance the charges
Al + 4OH- Al(OH)4- + 3e-………………..1
ClO4- + 8H+ + 8e- Cl- + 4H2O……………2
Step 4: Balance and eliminate the electrons
That is equation 1x8 and equation 2x3
8Al + 32OH- 8Al(OH)4- + 24e-
3ClO4- + 24H+ + 24e- 3Cl- + 12H2O
Step 5: Add the two half cell equations to get the overall equation
8Al + 32OH- 8Al(OH)4- + 24e-
3ClO4- + 24H+ + 24e- 3Cl- + 12H2O
8Al + 32OH- + 3ClO4- + 24H+ 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 12H2O
Step 6: Combine the H+ and OH- to form water
8Al + 32OH- + 24H+ + + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 12H2O
8Al + 24H2O + 8OH- + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 12H2O
Step 7: Balance the water
8Al + 24H2O - 12H2O + 8OH- + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 12H2O - 12H2O
8Al + 12H2O + 8OH- + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl-; the balanced equation
in basic medium.
In acidic medium
8Al + 12H2O + 8OH- + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl-
Step 8: Balance every OH- with H+ on both sides of the equation
8Al + 12H2O + 8OH- + 8H+ + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 8H+
Step 9: Combine the OH- and H+ to form water
8Al + 12H2O + 8H2O + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 8H+
8Al + 20H2O + 3ClO4- 8Al(OH)4- + 3Cl- + 8H+; the balanced equation in acidic
medium.

Ex
Balance the following equations in acidic and basic medium
• MnO4- + Fe2+ Mn2+ + Fe3+
• Cr2O72- + Fe2+ Cr3+ + Fe3+
• Ag + Zn2+ ` Ag2O + Zn