C1 Chapter 3: Reactions

Knowledge organiser

A chemical reaction is a change in which atoms rearrange and join together differently to make new substances. Physical changes are changes that do not make new substances.

Equations What happens during a reaction? Types of reaction

The substances that you start with in a If a chemical reaction is All chemical reactions involve an energy transfer to or from the surroundings: Thermal decomposition
reaction are called reactants, and the happening you might: reactions
ones you finish with are the products. Temperature of Type of reaction
1 see flames or sparks Energy transfer Example A decomposition reaction is when a
surroundings
substance breaks down into simpler
2 notice a smell from the
We can represent a reaction with a thermal substances.
3 Here fizzing or a bang surroundings to the decreases endothermic
word equation. decomposition Most decomposition reactions need
4 feel the temperature of the reaction mixture
The reactants are on the left heat to happen – this is called thermal
reaction mixture going up to the surroundings
The products are on the right decomposition.
or down from the reaction increases exothermic combustion
There is an ➞ from the reactants mixture
to the products Oxidation is when substances react
Speed of reactions with oxygen.
copper + oxygen ➞ copper oxide Some reactions are very fast Conservation of mass Combustion is a type of oxidation
but others can be very slow. reaction where a fuel reacts (burns) with
In a reaction, atoms are not created or destroyed – they are just rearranged.
reactants products Adding a catalyst can speed oxygen this transfers energy by heating.
The total mass of the reactants is always equal to the total mass of the products.
up a reaction, for example, to Petrol, diesel, and coal are all fossil
This is called conservation of mass.
make a product more quickly. fuels and take millions of years to form.
We can also use a balanced formula If the mass seems to increase, it is because atoms have been added from a gas.
equation to represent a reaction. Different reactions require They cannot be replaced when used,
different catalysts. magnesium + oxygen (gas) ➞ magnesium oxide
and will eventually run out, so are called
2Cu + O2 ➞ 2CuO A catalyst isn’t used up in the If the mass seems to have decreased, it is because atoms have rearranged and formed a non-renewable (finite).
reaction but helps the reaction gas that has escaped. Fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide and
A balanced formula equation shows: along.
calcium + water ➞ calcium hydroxide + hydrogen (gas) water when combusted. Extra carbon
• the formula of each substance in the
dioxide released into the air can cause
reaction
Chemical reactions are normally climate change.
• how the atoms are rearranged Changes of state are not chemical reactions, but they are reversible. This is called a
not reversible.
physical change.
• the relative number (ratio) of atoms of This means that you cannot
This is because no new substances are made. Hydrogen can also be combusted and
each substance. turn the products back into used as fuel.
reactants. For example, Water, ice, and steam are all made of molecules of the same substance
(H2O) in different states, and the change from one state to another is reversible. This may be better than using fossil fuels
because it only produces water as a
product.

2H2 + O2 ➞ 2H2O

Key Words
Make sure you can write a definition for these key terms.
balanced formula equation catalyst chemical reaction combustion reaction conservation of mass decomposition endothermic change exothermic change fossil fuel fuel non-renewable
oxidation reaction physical change product ratio reactants