Types of Equations It is most important for a chemist to be able to write correctly balanced equations and to interpret equations written

by others. It is also very helpful if he/she knows how to predict the products of certain specific types of reactions. I. Formulas show chemistry at a standstill. Equations show chemistry in action. A. Equations show: 1. 2. 3. the reactants which enter into a reaction. the products which are formed by the reaction. the amounts of each substance used and each substance produced.

B. Two important principles to remember: 1. 2. Every chemical compound has a formula which cannot be altered. A chemical reaction must account for every atom that is used. This is an application of the Law of Conservation of Matter which states that in a chemical reaction atoms are neither created nor destroyed. C. Some thin s to remember about writin equations: 1. The diatomic elements when they stand alone are always written H 2, #r2, $2 2. 3. 4. ). ,. The si%n, , means &yields& and shows the direction of the action. A small delta, '(, above the arrow shows that heat has been added. A double arrow, , shows that the reaction is reversible and can %o in both directions. #efore be%innin% to balance an e*uation, chec+ each formula to see that it is correct. NEVER chan%e a formula durin% the balancin% of an e*uation. #alancin% is done by placin% coefficients in front of the formulas to insure the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the arrow.
2

, !2, "2, Cl2,

7. Always consult the Activity eries of metals and nonmetals before attemptin% to
write e*uations for replacement reactions. -. .. $f a reactant or product is a solid, 's( is placed after the formula. $f a reactant or product is a %as, '%( is placed after it.

1/. $f a reactant or product is in water solution, 'a*( is placed after it. 11. 0ome products are unstable and brea+ down 'decompose( as they are produced durin% the reaction. 1ou need to be able to reco%ni2e these products when they occur and write the decomposition products in their places. E!amples:

H2C!3'a*(

H2!'l( 4 C!2'%(

Carbonic acid, as in soft drin+s, decomposes forms 5ater and carbon dio6ide H20!3'a*( H2!'l( 4 0!2'%(

0ulfurous acid also decomposes as it is formed.

H7!H'a*(

H3'%( 4 H2!'l(

1ou can definitely smell the odor of ammonia %as because whenever &ammonium hydro6ide& is formed it decomposes into ammonia and water. ". #ules for writin equations. 1. 2. 5rite down the formula's( for any substance enterin% into the reaction. 8lace a plus '4( si%n between the formulas as needed and put the yield arrow after the last one. 96amine the formulas carefully and decide which of the four types of e*uations applies to the reaction you are considerin%. !n the basis of your decision, write down the correct formulas for all products formed, placin% them to the ri%ht of the arrow. II. Four basic types of chemical reactions: A. Synthesis $composition%:

two or more elements or compounds may combine to form a more comple6 compound. !asic form" A # $ A$

E!amples of synthesis reactions: 1. Metal 4 o6y%en 9:. 2M%'s( 4 !2'%( 2. 9:. C's( 4 !2'%( 3. 9:. M%!'s( 4 4. metal o6ide 2M%!'s( nonmetallic o6ide metallic hydro6ide M%'!H(2's( acid ; H2C!3'a*( salt 2 aCl's( 28Cl3'%( C!2'%(

onmetal 4 o6y%en Metal o6ide 4 water H2!'l(

onmetallic o6ide 4 water 9:. C!2'%( 4 H2!'l( Metal 4 nonmetal 9:. 2 a's( 4 Cl2'%(

5. ,.

A few nonmetals combine with each other. 9:. 28's( 4 3Cl2'%(

%hese two reactions must be remembered" 1. 2. B. "ecomposition:

2'%(

4 3H2'%(

2 H3'%( H7!H'a*(

H3'%( 4 H2!'l(

A sin%le compound brea+s down into its component parts or simpler compounds. !asic form" A$ A # $

E!amples of decomposition reactions: 1. Metallic carbonates, when heated, form metallic o6ides and C! 2'%(.

9:. CaC!3's( 2. 3. 7. ). ,. 9:. Ca'!H(2's( 9:. 2<Cl!3's( 9:. H20!7 9:. 2H%!'s( 9:. 2H2!'l( 9:. 2 aCl'l( C. #eplacement:

Ca!'s( 4 C!2'%( Ca!'s( 4 H2!'%( 2<Cl's( 4 3!2'%( H2!'l( 4 0!3'%( 2H%'l( 4 !2'%( 2H2'%( 4 !2'%( 2 a's( 4 Cl2'%(

Most metallic hydro6ides, when heated, decompose into metallic o6ides and water. Metallic chlorates, when heated, decompose into metallic chlorides and o6y%en. 0ome acids, when heated, decompose into nonmetallic o6ides and water. 0ome o6ides, when heated, decompose. 0ome decomposition reactions are produced by electricity.

a more active element ta+es the place of another element in a compound and sets the less active one free. !asic form" A # !$ A$ # ! or A$ # & A& # $

E!amples of replacement reactions: 1. 2. =eplacement of a metal in a compound by a more active metal. 9:. "e's( 4 Cu0!7'a*( 9:. 2 a's( 4 2H2!'l( 9:. M%'s( 4 H2!'%( 3. 7. 9:. >n's( 4 2HCl'a*( 9:. Cl2'%( 4 2 a#r'a*( "e0!7'a*( 4 Cu's( 2 a!H'a*( 4 H2'%( M%!'s( 4 H2'%( >nCl2'a*( 4 H2'%( 2 aCl'a*( 4 #r2'l( =eplacement of hydro%en in water by an active metal.

=eplacement of hydro%en in acids by active metals. =eplacement of nonmetals by more active nonmetals.

N'%E" =efer to the activity series for metals and nonmetals to predict products of replacement reactions. $f the free element is above the element to be replaced in the compound, then the reaction will occurr. $f it is below, then no reaction occurs. "."ouble #eplacement& "isplacement #eaction ' (eutrali)ation #eaction $ Acids reacts with Bases % ' Ionic

occurs between ions in a*ueous solution. A reaction will occur when a pair of ions come to%ether to produce at least one of the followin%? 1. 2. 3. a precipitate a %as water or some other non@ioni2ed substance.

#asic form? A: 4 #1

A1 4 #:

E!amples of ionic reactions: 1. "ormation of precipitate. 9:. 2. 3. aCl 'a*( 4 A% !3'a*( a2 0!7'a*( a !3'a*( 4 A%Cl's( 2 aCl'a*( 4 #a0!7's( 9:. #aCl2'a*( 4

"ormation of a %as. 9:. HCl'a*( 4 "e0's( neutrali2ation reaction.( 9:. HCl'a*( 4 a!H'a*( aCl'a*( 4 H2!'l( CaCl2'a*( 4 C!2'%( 4 H2!'l( "eCl2'a*( 4 H20'%( "ormation of water. '$f the reaction is between an acid and a base it is called a

7.

"ormation of a product which decomposes. 9:. CaC!3's( 4 HCl'a*(

N'%E" Ase the solubility rules to decide whether a product of an ionic reaction is insoluble in water and will thus form a precipitate. $f a compound is soluble in water then it should be shown as bein% in a*ueous solution, or left as separate ions. $t is, in fact, often more desirable to show only those ions that are actually ta+in% part in the actual reaction. 9*uations of this type are called net ionic equations. Combustion of *ydrocarbons: Another important type of reaction, in addition to the four types above, is that of the combustion of a hydrocarbon. 5hen a hydrocarbon is burned with sufficient o6y%en supply, the products are always carbon dio6ide and water vapor. $f the supply of o6y%en is low or restricted, then carbon mono6ide will be produced. This is why it is so dan%erous to have an automobile en%ine runnin% inside a closed %ara%e or to use a charcoal %rill indoors.

N'%E"

Hydrocarbon 'C6Hy( 4 !2'%( 9:. CH7'%( 4 2!2'%(

C!2'%( 4 H2!'%(

C!2'%( 4 2H2!'%( -C!2'%( 4 1/H2!'%(

9:. 2C7H1/'%( 4 13!2'%(

(omplete combustion means the hi%her o6idation number is attained. Incomplete combustion means the lower o6idation number is attained. %he phrase )%o burn) means to add o6y%en unless told otherwise.