Chemical Reactions

Effects of chemical reactions: Chemical reactions rearrange atoms in the reactants to form new products. The identities and properties of the products are completely different from that of the reactants. Production of gases and color changes are signs of chemical reactions.

Energy and Reactions Energy must be ADDED to BREAK bonds. Energy is RELEASED when bonds are FORMED. Chemical energy is CONSERVED in chemical reactions.

Exo- vs. Endo- EXOTHERMIC REACTIONS: release energy (More energy is released as the products form bonds than is absorbed to break the bonds in the reactants.) ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS: absorb energy

Chemical Equations 2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O Chemical equations are used to represent or describe chemical reactions. For example when hydrogen H2 burns, it reacts with oxygen, O2, in the air to form water. We write the chemical equation for this reaction as follows: 2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O

Chemical Equations An equation shows… Formulas of reactants Formulas of products Molar ratios of all compounds in the reaction.

Chemical Equations 2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O We read the (+) sign as “reacts with” and the arrow (—>) as “produces” or “yields”. 2H2 + O2 —> 2H2O Reactants Products

To show physical states of each substance: (s) or  - solid (l) - liquid (g) or  - gas (aq) - aqueous aqueous means dissolved in water

To show physical states of each substance: Consider the reaction of iron with oxygen to form iron (III) oxide, or rust. Fe(s) + O2(g)  Fe2O3(s) (unbalanced)

Coefficients & Subscripts COEFFICIENTS: numbers in front of compound that represents the number of molecules/moles of that compound SUBSCRIPTS: small numbers that help define the compound. 2H2SO4 Coefficient Subscript

H2O One molecule of water 2H2O Two molecules of water H2O2 One molecule of Hydrogen Peroxide

During a chem. rxn.; atoms are rearranged (NOT created or destroyed!) Chemical equations must be balanced to show the relative amounts of all substances. Balanced means: each side of the equations has the same # of atoms of each element. CH4 + O2 —> H2O + CO2 Unbalanced CH4 + 2O2 —> 2H2O + CO2 Balanced

In order to balance… Write correct formulas for all reactants and products Reactants  Products Count the number of atoms of each element in reactants & products. Balance one at a time using coefficients. Check for balance Are the coefficients in the lowest possible ratio?

Balancing Equations NOTE: When balancing equations, you may change coefficients as much as you need to, but you may never change subscripts because you can’t change what substances are involved.

Fe(s) + O2(g)  Fe2O3(s) (unbalanced) 4Fe(s) + 3O2(g)  2Fe2O3(s) (balanced)

Sample Problem 1 H2O  H2 + O2 2H2O  2H2 + O2 Water is decomposed (broken down) to form the gaseous products hydrogen, H2, and oxygen, O2. Write the balanced equation for this reaction. H2O  H2 + O2 2H + 1O  2H + 2O O is not balanced 2H2O  2H2 + O2 4H + 2O  4H + 2O The equation is balanced!

Sample Problem 2 Chlorine gas, Cl2, reacts with potassium bromide, KBr, to form potassium chloride and bromine, Br2. Write the balanced equation for this reaction, Cl2 + KBr  KCl + Br2 2Cl + 1K + 1Br  1Cl + 1K +2Br Cl and Br are not balanced Cl2 + 2KBr  2KCl + Br2 2Cl + 2K + 2Br  2Cl + 2K +2Br The equation is balanced!

Balancing equations involves a great deal of “trial and error” at first, but there are some tricks…

Na + H2O —> NaOH + H2 For example….. Sodium metal reacts with water to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Na + H2O —> NaOH + H2 Note that on the product side (right side) there are an odd number of hydrogens. On the reactant side (left side) there is an even number. This implies there must be an even coefficient in front of the NaOH. Lets start with 2

_Na + _H2O —> 2NaOH + _H2 Now lets balance sodium; we need a 2 in front of the Na… 2Na + _H2O —> 2NaOH + _H2 Now consider hydrogen… 2Na + 2H2O —> 2NaOH + H2

the equation is balanced. 2Na + 2H2O —> 2NaOH + H2 Check to see if it balances… 2 Na on the left 2 Na on the right 4 hydrogen 2 + 2 = 4 hydrogen 2 oxygen 2 oxygen the equation is balanced.

Examples CuCl2(aq) + Al(s)  Cu(s) +AlCl3(aq) (3:2:3:2)

Balance C – then H – then O Examples Propane, C3H8, burns in oxygen, O2, to form carbon dioxide and water. C3H8 + O2 CO2 + H2O Balance C – then H – then O C3H8 + 5O2 3CO2 + 4H2O (1:5:3:4)

Balance C – then H – then O Examples Pentane, C5H12, burns in oxygen, O2, to form carbon dioxide and water. C5H12 + O2 CO2 + H2O Balance C – then H – then O C5H12 + 8O2 5CO2 + 6H2O (1:8:5:6)

Examples Silver nitrate reacts with copper to produce silver and copper (II) nitrate. AgNO3 + Cu Ag + Cu(NO3)2 2AgNO3 + Cu 2Ag + Cu(NO3)2 (2:1:2:1)

Examples Phosphorus reacts with oxygen gas to produce diphosphorus pentoxide. P + O2  P2O5 4P + 5O2  2P2O5 (4:5:2)

Balance C – then H – then O Examples C7H14 + O2 CO2 + H2O Balance C – then H – then O C7H14 + 10½O2 7CO2 + 7H2O 2C7H14 + 21O2 14CO2 + 14H2O (2:21:14:14)

Types of Reactions

Types of Chemical Reactions Synthesis / Combination Decomposition Single Replacement Double Replacement Combustion

Synthesis / Combination Reactions Definition: Reaction where two or more substances react to form a single substance. A + B  AB Examples: 2K(s) + Cl2(g)  2KCl(s) SO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2SO3(aq)

Decomposition Reactions Definition: Reaction where a single compound is broken down into two or more products. AB  A + B Examples: 2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g) CaCO3  CaO + CO2

Single-Replacement Reactions Definition: Reaction where atoms of one element replace atoms of a second element in a compound. XA + B  BA + X Note: A reactive metal will replace any metal listed below it in the activity series. Generally, nonmetal replacement is limited to the halogens. The activity of the halogens decreases as you go down Group 7A of the periodic table. See handout. Examples: 2AgNO3 + Mg  Mg(NO3)2+2Ag Mg+LiNO3  no reaction

Any element will replace any element below it. Li K Ca Na Mg Al Zn Fe Pb (H)* Cu Hg Ag Activity Series Increasing Activity Any element will replace any element below it. *Metals from Li to Na will replace H from acids and water; from Mg to Pb they will replace H from acids only

For Example… Ca + MgO  CaO + Mg The Ca will replace the Mg because Ca is more active than Mg. That is to say…Ca is above Mg on the activity list. For

Double-Replacement Reactions Definition: Reaction that involves an exchange of positive ions between two compounds. XA + BY  BA + XY Note: These reactions generally take place between two ionic compounds in aqueous solution, and are often characterized by one of the products coming out of solution in some way. Examples: 2NaCN(aq)+H2SO4(aq)  2HCN(g)+Na2SO4(aq) Na2S(aq)+Cd(NO3)2(aq)  CdS(s)+2NaNO3(aq)

Combustion Reactions Examples: Definition: Reaction where an element or a compound reacts with oxygen, often producing energy in the form of heat and light. Examples: CH4+2O2  CO2+2H2O + heat + light 2Mg(s)+O2(g)  2MgO(s)

Combustion of Hydrocarbons If the reactant is a hydrocarbon, the products are always carbon dioxide and water. CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O