Chemical
Reactions,
Counting Atoms,
and Balancing
Chemical
Equations.
Images © graphicsfactory.com
Ppt © Vicki The Science Lady
A Chemical Reaction is…
• A process where one or more elements or
compounds are changed into one or more
different substances
• A process where the original substance
changes into a new substance with new
properties
But, are new atoms created?
Are other atoms destroyed?
Law of Conservation of Mass states that…
Matter is never created or destroyed…
Therefore, the mass and types of
atoms that make up the reactants
must be equal to the mass and
types of atoms in the products. The
atoms are simply rearranged.
Reactants and Products
• Reactant: the original substance (s)
• Product: the new substance (s)
In the chemical equation, A + B AB, the
reactants are ‘A’ and ‘B’, which are on the left side of
the equation.
The product is ‘AB’ and is found on the right side of
the equation.
The arrow in the equation means ‘yields’, or ‘produces’.
How Do We Know If It Is A
Chemical Reaction?
• The following observations provide evidence
that a chemical reaction
is taking place:
– The temperature changes
– A gas is produced (bubbling)
– A precipitate forms (a solid forms from the
combination of two solutions and separates out)
– A permanent change in color
Be aware: Some physical changes produce some of the above
observations. For example, food coloring in water and boiling
water may look like chemical changes, but are physical changes.
Chemical Equation
• A chemical equation, or formula equation,
represents what happens in a chemical
reaction.
• For instance: The formula equation for the
addition of zinc metal and hydrochloric acid
looks like this:
2HCl + Zn H2 + ZnCl2
The arrow means
‘yields’ or ‘produces’.
Counting Atoms in Formulas
• Before you can correctly write and balance
an equation, you must be able to correctly
count atoms in chemical formulas.
• Let’s learn some basics…
Know Your ‘Equation’ Terms
• Coefficient – a whole number in front of the
formula that represents the relative number
of moles of the substance
• Subscript – the small number to the lower
right of an atom that represents the number
of atoms of that element in the molecule
Coefficient of 2
means there are 2
2H2O Subscript of 2 means there are
moles of water 2 hydrogen atoms in a molecule
of water
Counting Atoms in Formulas
How many atoms are in The subscript ‘2’
this formula? belongs to the oxygen
only and does not
CO2 affect the carbon atom.
1 mole of CO2
1 atom of carbon
3 atoms in this formula
2 atoms of oxygen
Counting Atoms in Formulas
How many atoms are in
this formula? 3 moles of CH4
3CH4 1 atom of carbon and
4 atoms of hydrogen
per molecule
15 atoms in this formula
Counting Atoms in Formulas
How many atoms
are in this formula? Al(OH)3
(OH)3 means there are
three molecules of OH
bonded to the atom of 1 mole of Al(OH)3
aluminum.
‘OH’ is in parentheses There are 7 atoms in
because the oxygen and this formula.
hydrogen atoms are a
‘pair’.
Counting Atoms in Formulas
2Cr2(CO3)3
How many atoms
are in this formula?
(CO3)3 means there 2 moles of 2Cr2(CO3)3
are three molecules
of CO3 bonded to two There are 28 atoms in
atoms of chromium. this formula.
Count carefully!
H 2O H2 O2
Chemical Equations
H 2O H2
A well-written chemical equation must:
– Represent a real situation – the actual reactants
must be able to react and form the products
given
– Contain correct formulas for the reactants and
products
– Abide by the Law of Conservation of Mass, which
means that atoms are never created nor
destroyed during chemical reactions
2H 2 + O 2
2H 2O
Chemical Equations
Balancing chemical equations is easy if you follow
some rules.
– You can only add a coefficient in front of a chemical
formula 2H2O
– You cannot change any subscripts, nor add any subscripts
O2
– You may not place a coefficient in the ‘middle’ of a
chemical formula Ca2Cl
– You must end up with the same number and kinds of
atoms on both sides of the equation when you are
finished. Count atoms on both sides upon completion to
check yourself. 2AB2 A2 + 4B
Types of Chemical Reactions
• Now that you know how to balance equations,
let’s look at the different types of reactions.
Types of Chemical Reactions
The basic types of chemical reactions are:
– Synthesis
– Decomposition
– Combustion
– Single Replacement
– Double Replacement
Synthesis
Two or more substances combine to form a
new compound.
General equation: Example of synthesis:
A + B AB SO2 + H2O H2SO3
(A and B represent an
element, molecule, or
compound)
Decomposition
A compound decomposes into two
or more simpler substances.
General equation: X and Y represent an
XY X + Y element, molecule,
or compound.
Example of Decomposition:
2NaNO3 2NaNO2 + O2
Combustion
Combustion: A substance will combine with
oxygen, and in the process, give off energy in
the form of light and heat.
General Equation:
A + O2 AO2
Example of the combustion of propane:
C3H8 + 5O2 3CO2 + 4H2O
Single Replacement
One element replaces another element in a
compound.
General equation: C, D, and F are elements, and
CD and CF are compounds.
C + DF CF + D
Example:
3Fe + 4H2O Fe3O4 + 4H2
Double Replacement
Two ionic compounds exchange ions in
solution to form two new compounds.
General equation: G+H- + J+K- G+K- + J+H-
G+, H-, J+, and K- represent ions.
Example:
FeS + 2HCl H2S + FeCl2
Practice
Name the type of reaction:
a. 2Na + Cl2 2NaCl
b. K + AgCl Ag + KCl
c. 2HgO 2Hg + O2
d. HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O
e. 2H2 + O2 2H2O
Practice Answers
Name the type of reaction:
a. 2Na + Cl2 2NaCl synthesis
b. K + AgCl Ag + KCl single replacement
c. 2HgO 2Hg + O2 decomposition
d. HCl + NaOH NaCl + H2O double
replacement
e. 2H2 + O2 2H2O combustion
