Grade 10

Chemical Reactions and Equations

In a chemical reaction, at least one of the following will occur:

1. Change in state
2. Change in colour
3. Evolution of a gas
4. Change in temperature

Balanced chemical equation

Reactants Products
LHS RHS

Total number of atoms on the LHS = Total number of atoms on the RHS
How to balance an equation
1. Write reactants and products
2. Balance the max. number of a particular atom on both sides
3. Balance other atoms

A complete balanced equation should look like

340 atm
CO (g) + 2H2 (g) CH3OH (l)

Types of reactions
1. Combination reaction
2 or more reactants combine to form one single product.
Examples
CaO (s ) H 2 O (l ) Ca OH 2 (aq )

Ca OH 2
Slaked lime
C O2 CO 2
2H 2 O 2 2H 2O (l )

Exothermic reaction – Heat gets released in the reaction. Most combination

reactions are exothermic.

2. Decomposition reaction
A single reactant breaks into several simple products.
Examples
Heat
2FeSO 4 Fe 2O3 + SO 2 + SO 3
Ferrous sulphate Ferric oxide
Heat
CaCO3 CaO + CO 2
Limestone Quick lime
Sunlight
2AgCl 2Ag + Cl2
 All decomposition reactions are endothermic [absorb heat].

3. Displacement reaction
One element replaces another element from a compound and forms a new
compound.
Fe + CuSO 4 FeSO 4 + Cu
Copper sulphate
Zn + CuSO 4 ZnSO 4 + Cu
Pb + CuCl2 PbCl2 + Cu

4. Double displacement reaction

Elements from 2 compounds interchange their positions
Na 2SO4 + BaCl2 BaSO4 + 2NaCl

Oxidation When a substance gets oxygen

Heat
2Cu + O 2 2CuO Oxidation of Cu
Heat
CuO + H 2 Cu + H 2O Oxidation of H 2

Reduction When one substance loses oxygen

Heat
CuO + H2 Cu + H2O Reduction of CuO

Redox – Oxidation–reduction reaction

Oxidation in everyday life

1. Corrosion – When a metal is attacked by substances around it (acids,
moisture) [that’s why metals are coated]
2. Rancidity – When fats and oils are oxidised, their smell and taste change
[that's why food is kept in air-tight containers]

Contribute to this Revision Note:

If you find anything of importance missing from this note, email it to us at revision-notes@meritnation.com, and
we’ll add it to this note under your name!