Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________

Types of Chemical Reactions POGIL

Do atoms rearrange in predictable patters during chemical reactions?
Why?
Recognizing patterns allows us to predict future behavior. Weather experts use patterns to
predict dangerous storms so people can get their families to safety. Political analysts use
patterns to predict election outcomes. Similarly, chemists classify chemical equations according
to their patterns to help predict products of unknown but similar chemical reactions.

1. 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.
2. Define the following terms as they are commonly used in the English language:
a. Synthesis:
b. Decomposition:
c. Replacement:

3.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

Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________
Double Replacement Reaction

Decomposition Reaction

*Stop here and wait for further instructions from your teacher.
Model 2: AnalogyDancing with Reactants
When you are thinking about the four different types of reactions, Id like you to think about
their similarity to dancing (yes, dancing). Ill show you what I mean.
The Dance
Adam and Barbara were both single. No one was talking about Adam and Barbara being
together before the dance. They both go to the dance alone. However, they meet at just the
perfect time when a song they both adore is playing. They end up holding hands the entire
dance. After that fateful meeting, no one ever sees Adam without Barbara, they are forever
referred to as Adam and Barbara.
Key Questions
4.Represent the drama of Adam and Barbara as a chemical equation. Use A to represent
Adam and B to represent Barbara.
5.If A and B represent elements, describe what is happening chemically.

6.How would you classify the reaction between A and B using the terms from question 3?

The Dance Continues

Later that same evening, Xavier and Yasmine, who have been the couple forever, have a
heated quarrel and break up.
7.Represent the drama of Xavier and Yasmine as a chemical equation. Use X to represent
Xavier and Y to represent Yasmine.
8.If X and Y represent elements, describe what is happening chemically.

9.How
the
using
from
3?

10.What

would you classify

reaction between X
and Y
the terms
question

type of reaction is
represented in the

Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________
picture below (the terms in question 3)? Write your own analogy for the reaction
illustrated in the picture.

11.Write a chemical reaction for this scenario.

The Dance Continues
In their blissful state, Adam and Barbara (AB) try to help Xavier and Yasmine (XY) reconcile their
differences. After everyone agrees to stop quarreling, Adam asks Yasmine to dance. Xavier and
Barbara decided that they will dance together, too.
12.Represent Adam and Barbaras attempt to reconcile Xavier and Yasmines differences as a
chemical equation.
13.Summarize the reaction.

14.What type of reaction does this scenario represent? (Based on the New Concepts
words).

Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________
Model 3: Types of Reactions

15. As shown in Model 3, list the number of reactants and the number of products found in
the synthesis reaction.

16. As shown in Model 3, list the number of reactants and the number of products found in a
decomposition reaction.
17.Compare/contrast a single replacement reaction to a double replacement reaction.

18.Identify each of the reactions below as synthesis (S), decomposition (D), single
replacement (SR), or double replacement (DR).

Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________
Model 3: Combustion Reactions

19. What are the products in all of the combustion reactions in Model 3?
20. What reactant is common in all of the combustion reactions in Model 3?
21. The fuel in most combustion reactions is a hydrocarbon. Using the examples in
Model 3, write a description for the classification of substances known as hydrocarbons.

22. For each type of the reaction types in Model 1, explain why a combustion reaction
CANNOT be classified as that type. Use complete sentences in each answer.

23.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 of magnesium oxide.
Mg + O MgO
a. What is the correct formula for magnesium oxide? Hint: What type of compound is
magnesium oxide?

b. What is the correct formula for elemental oxygen?

c. Describe the error made by the first student.

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

Name:__________________ ____________________________________Date:________Hour:___________
24.

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 students prediction of the products in the above reaction?

c. Write the correct balanced equation for the single replacement reaction between
lithium bromide and fluorine.

25.

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.