Chemical Equations & Reactions

Describing a Chemical Reaction

Indications of a Chemical Reaction

– Evolution of heat, light, and/or sound

– Production of a gas

– Formation of a precipitate

– Color change

Chemical EquationsDepict the kind of reactantsreactants and productsproducts and their relative amounts in a reaction.

4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Al2O3(s)

The numbers in the front are called stoichiometric coefficientsstoichiometric coefficients.

The letters (s), (g), and (l) are the physical states of compounds.

Chemical Equations

This equation means:

4 Al(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Al2O3(s)

4 Al atoms + 3 O2 molecules yield 2 molecules of Al2O3

4 Al moles + 3 O2 moles yield 2 moles of Al2O3

or

Chemical Equations

Because the same atoms are present in a reaction at the beginning (reactants) and at the end (reactants), the amount of matter in a system does not change.

The Law of Conservation of MatterLaw of Conservation of Matter

Chemical Equations

Because of the principle of the conservation of matterconservation of matter,

An equation must be balancedequation must be balanced.

It must have the same number of atoms of the same kind on both sides.

Lavoisier, 1788

Signs of Chemical ReactionsThere are five main signs that indicate a chemical reaction has taken place:

change in color change in odor production of new gases or vapor

input or release of energy

difficult to reverse

rele

ase

inp

ut

Characteristics of Chemical Equations

• The equation must represent known facts.

• The equation must contain the correct formulas for the reactants and products.

• The law of conservation of mass must be satisfied.

• Reactants→Products

Word Equations

• A WORD EQUATION describes chemical change using the names of the reactants and products.

•

Write the word equation for the reaction of methane gas with oxygen gas to form carbon dioxide and water.

methane + oxygen carbon dioxide + water

Reactant Product

Meaning of Chemical FormulaChemical Symbol Meaning Composition

H2O One molecule of water:

Two H atoms and one O atom

2 H2O Two molecules of water:

Four H atoms and two O atoms

H2O2 One molecule of hydrogen peroxide:

Two H atoms and two O atoms

Symbols Used in Chemical Equations

“Yields”; indicates result of reaction

Used to indicate a reversible reaction

A reactant or product in the solid state; also used to indicate a precipitate

Alternative to (s), but used only to indicate a precipitate

A reactant or product in the liquid state

A reactant or product in an aqueous solution

(dissolved in water)

A reactant or product in the gaseous state

(s)

(l)

(aq)

(g)

Additional Symbols Used in Chemical Equations

Alternative to (g), but used only to indicate a gaseous product

Reactants are heated

Pressure at which reaction is carried out, in this case 2 atm

Pressure at which reaction is carried out exceeds normal atmospheric pressure

Temperature at which reaction is carried out, in this case 0 oC

Formula of catalyst, in this case manganese (IV) oxide, used to alter the rate of the reaction

2 atm

pressure

0 oC

MnO2

Showing Phases in Chemical Equations

• Solid Phase – the substance is relatively rigid and has a definite volume and shape. NaCl(s)

•

• Liquid Phase – the substance has a definite volume, but is able to change shape by flowing. H2O(l)

•

• Gaseous Phase – the substance has no definite volume or shape, and it shows little response to gravity. Cl2(g)

H2O(s) H2O(l) H2O(g)

Types of Chemical ReactionsSynthesis (Combination) reaction

Decomposition reaction

ASingle-replacement reaction

BDouble-replacement reaction

Acid base reaction

Combustion reaction (of a hydrocarbon)

A + B AB

AB A + B

A + BC AC + B

AB + CD AD + CB

HX + BOH BX + HOH

CH + O2 CO2 + H2O

Ause activity series to predict

Bdriving force…water, gas, or precipitate

Synthesis Reaction

Direct combination reaction (Synthesis)

General form: A + B AB

element or element or compound compound compound

Na+Cl -

Na

ClNa

Cl

Na+ Cl -

2 Na + Cl2 2 NaCl

H

H

H

H

Decomposition Reaction

H

H

H

HO

Decomposition reaction

2 H2O 2 H2 O2

General form: AB A B

+

+

+compound two or more elements

or compounds

OO

O

H

H

H

H

Decomposition Reaction

H

H

H

HO

Decomposition reaction

2 H2O 2 H2 O2

General form: AB A B

+

+

+compound two or more elements

or compounds

OO

O

Single and Double Replacement Reactions

Double-replacement reaction

CaCO3 + 2 HCl CaCl2 + H2CO3

General form: AB + CD AD + CB

Single-replacement reaction

Mg + CuSO4 MgSO4 + Cu

General form: A + BC AC + B

CombustionCombustion ReactionsReactionsA substance combines with oxygen, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of light and heat.

  Reactive elements combine with oxygen

P4(s) + 5O2(g) P4O10(s)

(This is also a synthesis reaction)

  The burning of natural gas, wood, gasoline

C3H8(g) + 5O2(g) 3CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)

Unbalanced and Balanced Equations

Cl

ClClCl

ClCl

ClH

H

H

HHH

H

H2 + Cl2 HCl (unbalanced) H2 + Cl2 2 HCl (balanced)

2 12 1 2 2

reactants products reactants products 2 2H

Cl

H

Cl

Meaning of Chemical FormulaChemical Symbol Meaning Composition

H2O One molecule of water:

Two H atoms and one O atom

2 H2O Two molecules of water:

Four H atoms and two O atoms

H2O2 One molecule of hydrogen peroxide:

Two H atoms and two O atoms

Balancing Chemical Equations

Balanced Equation – one in which the number of atoms of each element as a reactant is equal to the number of atoms of that element as a product

What is the relationship between conservation of mass and the fact that a balanced equation will always have the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of an equation?

Determine whether the following equation is balanced.

2 Na + H2O 2 NaOH + H2

2 Na + 2 H2O 2 NaOH + H2

Balancing Chemical Equations

• Write a word equation for the reaction.

• Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

• Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

1) Write a word equation for the reaction.

Write a balanced equation for the reaction between chlorine and sodium bromide to produce bromine and sodium chloride.

2) Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

3) Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

chlorine + sodium bromide bromine + sodium chloride

Cl2 + NaBr Br2 + NaCl

Cl2 + 2 NaBr Br2 + 2 NaCl

1) Write a word equation for the reaction.

2) Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products.

3) Determine the coefficients that make the equation balance.

aluminum sulfate + calcium chloride calcium sulfate + aluminum chloride

Al2(SO4)3 + CaCl2 CaSO4 + AlCl3

Write the balanced equation for the reaction between aluminum sulfate and calcium chloride to form a white precipitate of calcium sulfate.

Al2(SO4)3 + 3 CaCl2 3 CaSO4 + 2 AlCl3

CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O

Reactants Products 1 C atom 1 C atom 4 H atoms 4 H atoms 4 O atoms 4 O atoms