Types of Chemical

Reactions

Predicting Products
from the Reactants
 Types of Reactions
1. Synthesis reactions
2. Decomposition reactions
3. Single displacement reactions
4. Double displacement reactions
5. Combustion reactions

You need to be able to identify each

 1. Synthesis

Example C + O2

C + O O  O C O

Synthesis: A + B  AB
 Criss Cross the Charges to
Balance
• Mg + N  ?

• Mg = +2
• N = -3
+2 -3
• Mg + N  Mg3N2

• Synthesis: A + B = AB
Ex. Synthesis Reaction
 Practice
• Predict the products:

2 Na(s) + Cl2(g)  2 NaCl(s)

Mg(s) + F2(g)  MgF2(s)

2 3 2 AlF3(s)
Al(s) + F2(g) 

• Now, balance them. (Criss-Cross!)

 But WAIT! What Does the
(s) and (aq) and (g) Mean???
• (s) in a chemical equation signifies a
SOLID
• (g) in a chemical equation is a GAS
• (aq) means “aqueous” (LIQUID)

• Why do you need to note that? Because

sometimes… a phase can change in a
reaction!
 2. Decomposition

Example: NaCl

Cl Na  Cl + Na

General: AB  A + B
Compound = Element + Element
Ex. Decomposition Reaction
 3. Single Displacement
Example: Zn + CuCl2
Zn was oxidized
Went from neutral (0) to (+2)

Cu Zn
Cl Cl + Zn  Cl Cl + Cu

Cu was reduced
Went from (+2) to Neutral (0)

General: AB + C  AC + B
Compound + Element = New Compound + New Element
 But WAIT! What do
“oxidized” and ”reduced” Mean?
• Remember?
• LEO the lion says GER
• Lose electrons = oxidation = LEO
• Gain electrons = reduction = GER

• Metals LOSE electrons

• Non-metals GAIN electrons
Ex. Single Replacement Reaction
 Single Replacement Reactions
• Write and balance the following single
replacement reaction equations:
• Zn(s) + 2 HCl(aq)  ZnCl2 + H2(g)

• 2 NaCl(s) + F2(g)  2 NaF(s) + Cl2(g)

• 2Al(s)+ 3Cu(NO3)2(aq) 3 Cu(s)+ 2Al(NO3)3(aq)

 4. Double Displacement

Example: MgO + CaS

Mg Ca Mg Ca
+  +
O S S O

General: AB + CD  AD + CB
 Double Replacement Reactions

• Think about it like “foil”ing in algebra, first

and outer ions go together + inside ions go
together
• Example:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)  AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

• Another example:
2 3(aq) + BaSO4(s)
K2SO4(aq) + Ba(NO3)2(aq)  KNO
 Practice

• Predict the products:

1. HCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) 
2. CaCl2(aq) + Na3PO4(aq) 
3. Pb(NO3)2(aq) + BaCl2(aq) 
4. FeCl3(aq) + NaOH(aq) 
5. H2SO4(aq) + NaOH(aq) 
6. KOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq) 
 5. Combustion Reactions
• Combustion reactions –
when a hydrocarbon reacts
with oxygen gas
• This is also called
BURNING!
• In order to burn something
you need the 3 things in
the “fire triangle”:

• 1) Fuel (hydrocarbon)
2) Oxygen
3) Something to ignite the
reaction (spark)
 Combustion Reactions

• In general:
CxHy + O2  CO2 + H2O

• Products are ALWAYS

CARBON DIOXIDE AND WATER!

• Combustion is used to heat homes and run

automobiles (octane, as in gasoline, is a
hydrocarbon: C8H18 )
 Mixed Practice
• State the type of reaction & predict the
products (try to balance the equation!)

1. BaCl2 + H2SO4 
2. C6H12 + O2 
3. Zn + CuSO4 
4. Cs + Br2 
5. FeCO3 