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Activity 0.4.2 Types of Chemical Reactions POGIL1

Do atoms rearrange in predictable patterns during chemical reactions?

Purpose: In this activity we will classify chemical equations according to their patterns to help
predict products of unknown but similar chemical reactions.

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CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) + energy
2C2H6(g) + 7O2(g) → 4CO2(g) + 6H2O(g) + energy
C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) → 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g) + energy
2C4H10(g) + 13O2(g) → 8CO2+10H2O(g) + energy
C5H12(l) + 8O2(g) → 5CO2 + 6H2O(g) + energy
2C6H14(l) + 19O2(g) → 12CO2(g) + 14H2O(g) + energy

1. The chemical equations in Model 1 contain the phase notations (s), (l), (g), and (aq).
Match each symbol with its meaning.
dissolved in water liquid solid gas

1
Adapted from “Types of Chemical Reactions” POGIL Activities for High School Chemistry. Trout, L. ed. Batavia, IL:
Flinn Scientific, 2012.

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2. Based on the examples provided, which set(s) of reactions in Model 1 typically involve
ions in solution (A, B, C, D or E)?

3. Based on the examples provided, which set(s) of reactions in Model 1 typically involve
gases and/or solids?

4. Match each description below to one of the reactions sets (A, B, C or D) from Model 1.
______________ Ionic compounds dissolved in water switch partners.
______________ One compound breaks into elements or smaller compounds.
______________ Two or more elements or compounds combine to form one product.
______________ Part of an ionic compound is removed and replaced by a new element.

5. Research the following terms as they are commonly used in the English
language.

Synthesis—
Decomposition—
Replacement—

6. The four sets of chemical reactions shown in Model 1 have the following general names.
Discuss within your group which name belongs to which set of chemical reactions. Write the
name in the appropriate place in Model 1.

Single Replacement Reaction Synthesis Reaction

Double Replacement Reaction Decomposition Reaction
Combustion Reaction

7. Can two elements be used as reactants for a synthesis reactions? If yes, give at least one
example from Model 1 to support your answer.

8. Can two compounds be used as reactants for a synthesis reaction? If yes, give at least one

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example from Model 1 to support your answer.

9. What types of substances (elements or compounds) are seen in the products of

decomposition reactions? Use examples from Model 1 to support your answer.

10. In single replacement reactions, do any of the atoms change their charge? If yes, use an
example from Model 1 to describe the changes that take place.

11. In double replacement reactions, do any of the atoms change their charge? If yes, use an
example from Model 1 to describe the changes that take place.

12. Choose one example from the set of synthesis reactions in Model 1.
a. Write the chemical reaction in reverse.

b. Label the reaction written in part a with one of the reaction types in Model 1.

13. Identify each of the reactions below as synthesis (S), decomposition (D), single replacement
(SR), double replacement (DR), or combustion (C).
C2H5OH(l) + 3O2(g) →2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (g)
2MgCl2(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + MgCO3(s)

2Al2O3(s) → 4Al(s) + 3O2(g)

Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Zn(s) → Cu(s) + Zn(NO3)2(aq)

H2SO4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

2Na(s) + C l 2 (g) → 2NaCl(s)

14. A student writes the following incorrect chemical equation for the synthesis of
magnesium oxide.
Mg + O2 → MgO2

Another student writes the following incorrect synthesis reaction.

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Mg + O → MgO
a. What is the correct formula for magnesium oxide? Hint: Magnesium oxide is an
ionic compound.

b. What is the correct formula for elemental oxygen?

c. Describe the error made by the first student.

d. Describe the error made by the second student.

e. Write the correct balanced chemical equation for the synthesis of magnesium oxide.

f. Is this reaction an oxidation-reduction reaction? If yes, justify your answer.

15. A student writes the following incorrect chemical equation for a single replacement
reaction between lithium bromide and fluorine.
2LiBr(aq) + F2(g) → 2Li(s) + 2FBr(g)

a. In a single replacement reaction, part of an ionic compound is removed and replaced

by a new element. What element will fluorine replace in lithium bromide? Hint: What is
the most common ionic form of fluorine?

b. What is wrong with the student’s prediction of the products in the above reaction?

c. Predict the products and write the correct balanced equation for the single
replacement reaction between lithium bromide and fluorine.

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d. Is this reaction an oxidation-reduction reaction? If yes, justify your answer.

16. A student writes the following incorrect chemical equation for a double replacement
reaction between iron(III) bromide and sodium hydroxide solutions.
FeBr3(aq) + NaOH(aq) → FeOH(s) + NaBr3(aq)

a. What is wrong with the chemical formula(s) of the product(s) predicted by this student?

b. Write the correct equation for the double replacement reaction between iron(III)
bromide and sodium hydroxide.

c. Is this reaction an oxidation-reduction reaction? If yes, justify your answer.

17. Consider the following chemical reaction written as a word

equation.

diphosphorus pentoxide + water → phosphoric acid

a. Identify the type of chemical reaction from Model 1 that would describe this reaction.

b. Write chemical formulas under the names of the substances in the word equation.

c. Balance the chemical equation.

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Read This!
Chemists use their knowledge of synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, and double
replacement to predict what will happen in chemical reactions. When predicting the products for
a reaction it is important to remember that atoms or ions will only combine in ways that make
them stable, otherwise the reaction will not happen under normal conditions. This means that it is
important to pay attention to ion charges, the natural state of elements, and the formulas of
common molecular substances like carbon dioxide and water. It is only after predicting the
products and writing the correct formulas that a chemist would then apply the law of conservation
of mass and balance the chemical equation using coefficients as needed.

18. Use your understanding of common chemical reactions to predict the products for the
following reactions. Writing a word equation may be helpful. Balance the chemical
equations after you have written the correct chemical formulas for all of the reactants
and products.

a. Al(s) + N2(g) →

b. Lithium bromide(s) →

c. SrCl2(aq) + 2AgNO3(aq) →

d. chromium(III) nitrate(aq) + zinc chloride(aq) →

e. Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) →

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Model 2 – Combustion Reactions

2C8H18(g) + 25O2(g) → 16CO2(g) + 18H2O(g) (C8H18 = octane—gasoline component)

2C4H10(g) + 13O2(g) → 8CO2(g) + 10H2O(g) (C4H10 = butane—lighter fuel)

CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) (CH4 = methane—natural gas)

19. What are the products in all of the combustion reactions in Model 2?

20. What reactant is common in all of the combustion reactions in Model 2?

21. The “fuel” in most combustion reactions is a hydrocarbon. Using the examples in Model
2, write a description for the classification of substances known as hydrocarbons.

22. Predict the product of the following combustion reaction, and balance the reaction equation.
2C2H2 + 5O2 →

23. Compounds such as isopropyl alcohol (C3H7OH) and glucose (C6H12O6) can also undergo
combustion in a similar way. Predict the products of the following combustion reactions, and
balance each reaction equation.

a. C3H7OH + O2 →

b. C6H12O6 + O2 →

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