Chemical Reactions
A chemical reaction a is a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form or a nuclear reaction. So in a chemical reaction is were the chemical or molecular compound changes. There are five different kinds of chemical reactions and we are going to break it down for you.
- The first kind of reaction is a decomposition reaction. This occurs when a driving force makes a chemical compound's molecules are broken apart. Some examples of a decomposition reaction are: 2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2, H2CO3 → H2O + CO2, 2H2 + O2 → 2H2Ohe substance breaks apart. Another thing to keep in mind when were doing this is the fact that at the beginning and the end of a chemical reaction the equation with the substances are balanced!MCO3 → MO + CO2. so as you can see using the chemical equation of a substance that during a decomposition reaction the substance breaks apart. Another thing to keep in mind when were doing this is the fact that at the beginning and the end of a chemical reaction the equation with the substances are balanced!
- The second type of chemical a chemical reaction is a synthesis reactions.A synthesis reaction or direct combination reaction is one of the most common types of chemical reactions. In a synthesis reaction two or more chemical species combine to form a more complex product. So basically what happens in a synthesis reaction is that two elements join together to form one molecule as demonstrated by this graphic. element + element → compound, an example of this in chemical equation form is 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O. here are some other examples:Mg + O2 ---> MgO, H2 + O2 ---> H2O, K + Cl2 ---> KCl, Fe + O2 ---> Fe2O3.
- The third type of a chemical reaction is a single replacement reaction. This is where a single replaces a element in a compound. (compound + compound → compound + compound) H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O so in this example of a single replacment we see that the sodium and the hydroxide replace each other. here are some more examples: Cu + AgNO3 ---> Ag + Cu(NO3)2, Fe + Cu(NO3)2 ---> Fe(NO3)2 + Cu, Ca + H2O ---> Ca(OH)2 + H2, Zn + HCl ---> ZnCl2 + H2. so in each of these examples i hope that you can see how a single element replaces another in the reaction.
- The fourth type of a chemical reactions is a double replacement reaction. In a double replacement reaction a element from each of the two compounds switch places-es. (H2SO4 + 2NaOH → Na2SO4 + 2H2O) so as you can see there was two elements replaced from the first form of the equation to the second phase.
- The final kind of chemical reaction is a combustion reaction. which is a reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen and releases heat and light. So combustion reactions are just what you think, combustion. The most prominent example of course is a car motor. So in a car the pistons move up and down and force the oxygen in the air to the gas and that along with the energy generated by the piston moving causes the oxygen to react with the gas causing a combustion reaction. some examples of these combustion reactions on paper are: CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2 H2O(g), C10H8 + 12 O2 → 10 CO2 + 4 H2O, 2 C2H6 + 7 O2 → 4 CO2 + 6 H2O.
- Now remember not to think of these reactions only on paper. Chemical reactions happen in the world all around us in everything we see everything we do, and everything we eat. so be aware of chemical reactions and don't be afraid to ask your local teacher questions of why and how certain reactions happen and what are the results. so i hope you enjoyed this lesson and took a lot away from it and go to a chemistry lab near you and explore. But be safe you can refer to our lab safety video for tips on how to stay safe in the lab .