Inorganic and Organic Chemistry

Chapter 5: CHEMICAL REACTIONS

CHAPTER OUTLINE:
5.1 The Chemical Equation
5.2 Types of Chemical Reactions
5.3 Balancing Equations

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

To identify chemical reactions of the different chemical processes.

Write chemical reactions and identify the end products.
To correctly balance chemical reactions or equations.

5.1 The Chemical Equation

A chemical equation is a shorthand expression for a chemical change or reaction. A chemical

equation uses the chemical symbols and formulas of the reactants and products and other symbolic terms to
represent a chemical reaction. The equations are written according to this general format:

1. Reactants are separated from products by an arrow ( ) that indicates the direction of the reaction. The
reactants are placed to the left and the products to the right of the arrow. A plus sign (+) is placed between
reactants and between products when needed.

A+B AB

2. Coefficients (whole numbers) are placed in front of substances to balance the equation and to indicate the
number of units (atoms, molecules, moles, ions) of each substance reacting or being produced. When no
number is shown, it is understood that one unit of the substance is indicated.

2 Al + Fe2O3 2 Fe + Al2O3

3. There are conditions required to carry out the reaction may be placed above or below the arrow or equality
sign. For example, a delta sign placed over the arrow which indicates that heat is supplied to the reaction.

CaCO3 CaO + CO2

4. The physical state of a substance is indicated by the following symbols: for (s) solid state; (l) for liquid state;
for (g) gaseous state; and for substances in aqueous solution. States are not always given in chemical
equations.

CaCO3(s) CaO + CO2(s)

SYMBOL MEANING
+ Plus or added to (placed between substances)
Yields; produces (points to products)
(s) Solid state (written after a substance)
(l) Liquid state (written after a substance)
(g) Gaseous state (written after a substance)
(aq) Aqueous solution (substance dissolved in water)
Heat is added (when written above or below arrow)
5.1 Symbols commonly used in Chemical Equations

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Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
5.2 Types of Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions is a process that always involve chemical change. Also, this tends to involve the
motion of atoms, molecules, or ions rearrange to form different substances. Reactants are the substances
which enters the reaction while the substances formed are called the products. During reactions chemical
bonds are broken and new bonds are formed. Both the reactant and product may be present as solids, liquids,
gases, or in solution.

In a chemical reaction atoms are neither created nor destroyed. All atoms that are present in the reactants
must also be present in the products.

1. COMBINATION REACTION/DIRECT COMBINATION/SYNTHESIS REACTION

In combination reaction two or more chemical species (reactants) combine to form a more complex
form of a product. The general equation is: A + B AB (Both A and B are either element or compound
and AB is a compound). The formula of the compound in many cases can be determined from knowledge of
the ionic charges of the reactants in their combined states.

Examples: 2Na + Cl22NaCl (Salt)

Fe2+ + S2- FeS

2. DECOMPOSITION (ANALYSIS) REACTION

A single substance is decomposed, or broken down into smaller (simpler) to give two or more
different substances. This reaction is considered as the opposite of direct combination reaction. The starting
material is a compound, and the products may be elements or compounds. The general form of the equation
is AB A+B

Example: H 2O H2 + O2

*Carbonates and hydrogen carbonates decompose to yield when heated:

CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g)

2 NaHCO3(s) Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)

3. SINGLE DISPLACEMENT REACTION

Also known as the substitution reaction is characterized by one element reacts with a compound to
replace one of the elements of that compound, yielding a different element and a different compound. The
general form of equation is: A + BC AC + B

Example: Substitution reaction occurs when zinc combines with hydrochloric acid. The zinc replaces
the hydrogen.

Zn + HCl ZnCl2 + H2

4. DOUBLE DISPLACEMENT REACTION

This reaction is also known as metathesis reaction. It happens when two compounds exchange bonds
or ions in order to form different compounds. The general form of the equation is: AB + CD AD + CB.
This reaction can be thought of as an exchange of positive and negative groups, in which A combines with D
and C combines with B. In writing formulas for the products, we must account for the charges of the
combining groups.

Example: Metathesis reaction occurs between sodium chloride and silver nitrate to form sodium
nitrate and silver chloride.

NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + AgCl(s)

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Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
5. ACID-BASE (NEUTRALIZATION) REACTION

An acid-base reaction is a type of double displacement reaction that occurs between an acid and a
base. The H+ ion in the acid reacts with the OH- in the base to form water and an ionic salt.

HA + BOH BA + H2O

6. COMBUSTION

This is a type of redox reaction in which a combustible material combines with an oxidizer to form
oxidized products and generate heat. Usually combustion reaction, oxygen will combine with another
compound to form carbon dioxide and water.

CxHy + O2 CO2 + H2O

CxHyOz + O2 CO2 + H2O

7. HYDROLYSIS

In hydrolysis reaction, it involves water. It is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water
ruptures one or more chemical bonds. Hydrolysis reaction can be the reverse of condensation reaction in
which two molecules join together into a larger one and eject water molecule. Thus, hydrolysis adds water to
break down, whereas condensation builds up by removing water and any other solvents.

X-(aq) + H2O(l) HX(aq) + OH-(aq)

8. OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTION (REDOX REACTION)

This is characterized by the actual or formal transfer of electrons between chemical species, most
often with one species undergoing oxidation while another species undergoes reduction.

HEAT IN CHEMICAL REACTION

Energy changes always accompany chemical reactions. One reason reactions occur is that the
products attain a lower, more stable energy state than the reactants. The heat of reaction is the energy that
is released or absorbed when chemicals are transformed in a chemical reaction. It describes the change of the
energy content when reactants are converted into products. Reactions are either exothermic or endothermic.
Exothermic reactions liberate heat; endothermic reactions absorb heat.

5.3 Balancing Equations

To represent the quantitative relationships of a reaction, the chemical equation must be balanced. A
balanced equation contains the same number of each kind of atom on each side of the equation. The
balanced equation therefore obeys the law of conservation of mass.

The general procedure for balancing equations is as follows:

1. Write the unbalanced equation.

Chemical formulas of reactants are listed on the left hand side of the equation.
Products are listed on the right hand side of the equation.
Reactants and products are separated by putting an arrow between them to show the direction of
the reaction. Reactions at equilibrium will have arrows facing both directions.

BaCl2 + NaNO3 NaCl + Ba [NO3]2

REACTANTS PRODUCTS

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Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
2. Balance the equation.

Apply the Law of Conservation of Mass to get the same number of atoms of every element on each
side of the equation. Try to start with balancing an element that appears in only one reactant and
product.
Once one element is balanced, proceed to balance another, and another, until all the elements are
balanced.
Balance chemical formulas by placing coefficients in front of them. Do not add subscripts, because
this will change the formulas.

BaCl2 + NaNO3 NaCl + Ba [NO3]2

Reactant: Ba = 1 atom Product: Ba = 1 atom

Cl = 2 atoms Cl = 1 atom
Na = 1 atom Na = 1 atom
N = 1 atom N = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms
O = 3 atoms O = 3 x 2 = 6 atoms

The chemical equation is unbalanced. Balance it by making sure the numbers of atoms of the elements in
both sides are equal by placing coefficient before each formula or substance.

BaCl2 + 2 NaNO3 2 NaCl + Ba [NO3]2

Reactant: Ba = 1 atom Product: Ba = 1 atom

Cl = 2 atoms Cl = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms
Na = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms Na = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms
N = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms N = 1 x 2 = 2 atoms
O = 3 x 2 = 6 atoms O = 3 x 2 = 6 atoms

3. Indicate the states of matter of the reactants and product.

Write the state of matter immediately following the formula of the substance it describes.
Use (g) for gaseous substance.
Use (s) for solids.
Use (l) for liquids.
Use (aq) for species in solution in water.

BaCl2(l) + 2NaNO3(l) 2NaCl(s) + Ba [NO3]2(l)

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