Sie sind auf Seite 1von 4

Writing chemical equation

Equations show the reactants which enter into a reaction, the products which
are formed by the reaction and the amounts of each substance used and each
substance produced.

1. Some things to remember about writing equations:


• The diatomic elements when are written as H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2 when
alone.
• The sign, → , means "yields" and shows the direction of the action. A double
arrow, ↔ , shows that the reaction is reversible and can go in both directions.
• A small delta, (Δ), above the arrow shows that heat has been added.
• If a reactant or product is a solid, (s) is placed after the formula. If it is a gas, (g)
and for liquid, (l) is placed after it. If a reactant or product is in water solution,
(aq) is placed after it.
• All chemical equations should be balanced.

Four basic types of chemical reactions:


1. Synthesis (composition): two or more elements or compounds may combine to
form a more complex compound.
Basic form: A + X → AX
Examples of synthesis reactions:
a. Metal + oxygen → metal oxide
ex. 2Mg + O → 2MgO
(s) 2(g) (s)
b. Nonmetal + oxygen → nonmetallic oxide
ex. C + O → CO
(s) 2(g) 2(g)
c. Metal + nonmetal → salt
ex. 2 Na + Cl → 2NaCl
(s) 2(g) (s)
d. Metal oxide + water → metallic hydroxide
ex. MgO + H O → Mg(OH)
(s) 2 (l) 2(s)
e. Nonmetallic oxide + water → acid
ex. CO + H O → H CO
2(g) 2 (l) 2 3(aq)

Exercise: Predict the products for each reaction by completing the word equation then
the write balanced equation.
1. strontium + chlorine -->

2. ferric oxide + water -->

3. lithium + oxygen -->

4. sulfur + oxygen -->

5. gallium + phosphorus -->

2. Decomposition: A single compound breaks down into its component parts or


simpler compounds.
Basic form: AX → A + X
Examples of decomposition reactions:
a. Binary ionic compound → elemental components
ex. 2HgO → 2Hg + O
(s) (l) 2(g)
b. Metallic carbonates (when heated) → metallic oxides and CO
2(g)
.
ex. CaCO → CaO + CO
3(s) (s) 2(g)
c. Most metallic hydroxides (when heated) → metallic oxides and water.
ex. Ca(OH) → CaO + H O
2(s) (s) 2 (g)
d. Metallic chlorates, when heated, decompose into metallic chlorides
and oxygen.
ex. 2KClO → 2KCl + 3O
3(s) (s) 2(g)
e. Some acids (when heated), yieldnonmetallic oxides and water.
ex. H SO → H O + SO
2 4 2 (l) 3(g)

Exercise : Predict the products for each reaction by completing the word equation then
the write balanced equation.
1. cupric chlorate

2. silver carbonate

3. aluminum hydroxide

4. tetraphosphorus decoxide

5. calcium nitride

3. Single Replacement/Displacement: a more active element takes the place of


another element in a compound and sets the less active one free.
Basic form: A + BX → AX + B or AX + Y → AY + X
Examples of replacement reactions:
a. Replacement of a metal (or hydrogen) in a compound by a more
active metal.
ex. Fe + CuSO → FeSO + Cu
(s) 4(aq) 4(aq) (s)
b. Replacement of nonmetals by more active nonmetals.
ex. Cl + 2NaBr → 2NaCl + Br
2(g) (aq) (aq) 2(l)
NOTE: Refer to the activity series for metals and nonmetals to predict products of
replacement reactions. If the free element is above the element to be replaced in the compound,
then the reaction will occur. If it is below, then no reaction occurs.

Exercise: Predict the products for each reaction by completing the word equation then
the write balanced equation.
1. sodium + water

2. magnesium + silver nitrate

3. mercuric chloride + fluorine

4. ammonium iodide + bromine

5. potassium phosphate + iron

3. Double Replacement/Displacement : occurs between ions in aqueous solution.


Basic form: AX + BY → AY + BX
Examples of double replacements reactions:
a. Formation of precipitate.
ex. NaCl + AgNO → NaNO + AgCl
(aq) 3(aq) 3(aq) (s)
b. Formation of a gas.
ex. HCl + FeS → FeCl + H S
(aq) (s) 2(aq) 2 (g)
c. Neutralization reaction.
ex. HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H O
(aq) (aq) (aq) 2 (l)
d. Formation of a product which decomposes.
ex. CaCO + HCl → CaCl + CO + H O
3(s) (aq) 2(aq) 2(g) 2 (l)

Exercise: Predict the products for each reaction by completing the word equation then
the write balanced equation.
1. calcium sulfate + magnesium iodide

2. ammonium hydroxide + hydrogen bromide

3. stannic perchlorate + barium phosphate

4. lead(II) sulfide + zinc carbonate

5. rubidium phosphide + manganese(IV) dichromate

D. Other type of reactions


1. Combustion reaction – reactions that involved oxygen
If it is a combustion of hydrocarbons (compounds containing carbon and
hydrogen) the product is always carbon dioxide and water
Basic Form: C H + O → CO + H O
x y 2 2 2
Example of combustion reactions:
a. CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
b. C H + 5O → 3CO + 4H O
3 8 2 2 2

Exercise: Write the balanced equation.


1. C H +O
2 6 2

2. C H +O
4 6 2

3. C H +O
5 10 2

4. C H +O
7 12 2

5. C H +O
10 22 2

Exercise : For each reaction, identify the type of reaction, predict the product and
then write the balanced chemical equation.
1. sodium metal and chlorine

2. calcium phosphate and sulfuric acid

3. zinc and copper (II) sulfate

4. calcium oxide and aluminum

5. chlorine gas and sodium

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen