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Chapter 7
Chemical Reactions
Lecture Notes

1. Evidence of Chemical Reactions

Evidence for a chemical change (chemical reaction) taking place:
a. a gas is released (bubbling or fizzing)
b. an insoluble substance (precipitate) is formed
c. a permanent color change is observed
d. heat energy changed (cooling or warming) is noted

2. Writing Chemical Equations

- convention for writing chemical equations:
A + B ---------------> C + D
reactants products
- descriptive terms often included:
A(s) + B(aq) ---------------> C(l) + D(g)
- catalyst: a substance that speeds up the reaction without itself being
consumed or permanently altered; examples of catalysts: H 2, Pt, Fe
- common terms: (s) – solid phase
(l) – liquid phase
(g) – gas phase
(aq) – aqueous solution
N.R. – No Reaction
2 – heat added to reaction
ŋν – light added
ppt – precipitate formed
– precipitate formed
– gas formed
catalyst
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3. Balancing Chemical Reactions

Balancing by inspection:
a. verify that all formulas for all substances in the equation are correct
b. balance each element in the equation by placing a coefficient in
 front of each substance
- hint: * start with the most complex formula in the equation
* the number “1” is not written
e.g.: H2CO3(aq) + NH4OH(aq) ----> (NH4)2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)
most complex; start with this
H2CO3(aq) + 2NH4OH(aq) ----> (NH4)2CO3(aq) + 2H2O(l)
coefficient of 2 to balance “NH4” groups coefficient of 2
e.g.: Hg2(NO3)2(aq) + NaBr(aq) ----> Hg2Br2(s) + NaNO3(aq)
most complex; start with this
Hg2(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaBr(aq) ----> Hg2Br2(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)
coefficient of 2 to balance “Br” coefficient of 2 to balance “NO 3”
c. review to make sure all elements are balanced

4. Classifying Chemical Reactions

a. Combination or Synthesis – two or more substances combine into a
single compound
A + Z ----> AZ
b. Decomposition – a single compound breaks down into 2 or more
substances
– often catalyzed by heat (2)
AZ ----> A + Z
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c. Single Displacement – one metal displaces another metal or
Hydrogen from a compound; the compound
formed is more stable then the original
compound
– reactivity dependent on Activity Series
A + BZ ----> B + AZ
d. Double Displacement – two compounds exchange anions
AZ + BX ----> AX + BZ
* Neutralization – special type of double displacement reaction
involving an acid and a base
– acid and base react to form an ionic compound
(salt) and water
HX + BOH ----> BX + HOH
e. Combustion – reaction (burning) with Oxygen in air
– the complete combustion of hydrocarbons result in
formation of CO2 and H2O
 CxHy + O2(g) ----> CO2(g) + H2O(g)
CxHyOH + O2(g) ----> CO2(g) + H2O(g)
Combination or Synthesis Reactions
a) metal + Oxygen gas
e.g., 2 Zn + O2(g) ----> 2 ZnO (formed from Zn2+ and O2-)
Zinc Oxide
Zn metal; written as diatomic
written as monoatomic
b) non-metal + Oxygen gas
e.g., 2 S + O2(g) ----> 2 SO2
2 N2 + 5 O2(g) ----> 2 N2O5
c) metal + non-metal
e.g., 2 Na + Cl2(g) ----> 2 NaCl (formed from Na+ and Cl-)
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Decomposition
a) metal hydrogen carbonates – reaction requires heat
– result in formation of CO2, H2O and
metal carbonate
e.g., 2 NaHCO3(s) ----> Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)
Na+ and HCO3
- Na+ and CO3
2-

b) metal carbonates – reaction requires heat

– results in formation of CO2 and metal oxide
e.g., Na2CO3(s) ----> Na2O(s) + CO2(g)
Na+ and CO3
2-Na+ and O2-
c) miscellaneous O-containing compounds – results in O 2 plus
various other products
e.g., Oxides: 2 HgO(s) ----> 2 Hg + O2
Others: 2 KClO3(s) ----> 2 KCl + 3 O2
2 SnSO4(s) ----> 2 SnSO3 + O2
Exercise: Predict the product(s) of the following reactions and write the
balanced equation:
KHCO3 ------------>
Li2CO3 ------------>
N2 + H2(g) -------->
Zn(HCO3)2 ------------>
CdCO3 ------------->
K + Br2(g) ------------>
 Fe + O2(g) ------>
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Single Displacement Reactions
Rule: The more active metal displaces the less active metal from a
compound or aqueous solution.
Activity – measure of ability to compete with another metal in a
displacement reaction
Activity Series or Electromotive Series – sequential list of metals
according to their ability to undergo reaction:
Li
K
Ba
Sr
Ca
Na
Mg
Al
Mn
Zn
Fe
Cd
Co
Ni
Sn
Pb
H
Cu
Ag
Hg
Au
Activity Series for Halogens – sequential list of halogens
according to their ability to undergo single
displacement reaction:
F
Cl
 Br
I
e.g., Cl2(g) + 2 KI ----> 2 KCl + I2(g)
I2 + KBr ------> N.R.
precious metals:
will not react with acids
Active metals:
react with H2O at room temperature
will react with acids
Increasing activity
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a) Metal1 + Aqueous Soln1 ----> Metal2 + Aqueous Soln2
e.g., Ag(s) + Fe(NO3)2(aq) ----> N.R.
Cd(s) + Fe(NO3)2(aq) ----> N.R.
3 Zn(s) + 2 Fe(NO3)3(aq) ----> 3 Zn(NO3)2 + 2 Fe
Mg(s) + Fe(NO3)2(aq) ----> Mg(NO3)2 + Fe
b) Metal + Aqueous Acid Soln ----> Aqueous Soln + H 2(g)
e.g., Zn(s) + 2 HNO3(aq) ----> Zn(NO3)2 + H2(g)
c) Active Metal + H2O ----> Metal Hydroxide + H2(g)
e.g., 2 Na(s) + 2 H2O ----> 2 NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Double Displacement Reactions
a) Aqueous Soln1 + Aqueous Soln2 ----> Aqueous Soln3 + ppt
e.g., MgSO4(aq) + BaCl2(aq) ----> BaSO4(s) + MgCl2(aq)
Mg2+ and SO4
2- Ba2+ and Cl- BaSO4(s) Mg2+ and Cl-
- reaction occurs when a new product, e.g., a ppt, a liquid or a gas is
formed
- consult solubility rules to determine if precipitate (solid substance)
was formed:
Solubility Rules for Ionic Compounds
Compounds containing the following ions are generally soluble in water:
1. Group I (alkali metal) ions , e.g., Li+, Na+, K+, and ammonium ion, NH4
+
2. acetate ion, CH3COO-
3. nitrate ion, NO3
-
4. halide ions, Cl-, Br-, F-, etc. (AgX, Hg2X2 and PbX2 are insoluble exceptions)
5. sulfate ion, SO4
2- (SrSO4, BaSO4 and PbSO4 are insoluble exceptions)
Compounds containing the following ions are generally insoluble in water:
6. carbonate ion, CO3
2- (see Rule 1 exceptions, which are soluble)
7. chromate ion, CrO4
2- (see Rule 1 exceptions, which are soluble)
8. phosphate, PO4
 3- ion (see Rule 1 exceptions, which are soluble)
9. sulfide ion, S2- (CaS, SrS and BaS and Rule 1 exceptions are soluble)
10. hydroxide ion, OH- (Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2, Ba(OH)2 and Rule 1 exceptions are
soluble)
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e.g., ZnSO4(aq) + 2NaNO3(aq) ---> Zn(NO3)2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq)
Zn2+ and SO4
2- Na+ and NO3
- Zn2+ and NO3
- Na+ and SO4
2-

ZnSO4(aq) + NaNO3(aq) ---> N.R. (no new product formed)

e.g., ZnSO4(aq) + BaCl2(aq) ---> ZnCl2(aq) + BaSO4(s)
Zn2+ and SO4
2- Ba2+ and Cl- Zn2+ and Cl- BaSO4 (s)
=

Neutralization Reactions
Acid – compounds that release Hydrogen ions (H+) in solution (i.e., H+
donors)
– examples are HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4
Base – substance that release Hydroxide ions (OH-) in solution (i.e.,
accepts H+)
– examples are NaOH, Ba(OH)2, Fe(OH)3
H2SO4(aq) + Ca(OH)2(aq) ---> H2O(l) + CaSO4(aq)
H+ and SO4
2- Ca2+ and OH- H+ + OH- Ca2+ and SO4
2-

Combustion Reactions
- combustion reactions emit heat (exothermic)
- examples:
Hydrocarcons: CxHy + O2(g) ----> CO2(g) + H2O(g)
CxHyOH + O2(g) ----> CO2(g) + H2O(g)
Carbon: C(s) + O2(g) ----> CO2(g)
Hydrogen: 2 H2(g) + O2(g) ----> 2 H2O(g)
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Exercise: Predict the product(s) of the following reactions and write the
balanced equation:
K2CO3(aq) + NiBr2(aq) ------------->
H2SO4(aq) + Ba(OH)2(aq) ------------>
KOH(aq) + (NH4)2SO4(aq) ------------>
CH3CH2CH2OH(l) + O2(g) ------>
Na2SO3(aq) + HCl(aq) ------------>