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Unit 4 / Chemical Equations

Introduction:
The chemical equation is a language of symbols and formulas used by
chemists to describe chemical reactions. Mathematicians also have a language of
symbols which you are already familiar with. In math, twenty-two plus eighteen
equals forty is expressed symbolically as 22 + 18 = 40. The chemical equation
takes what was started with (reactants) and what was produced (products) and
expresses them in symbolic form.

chemical change
Reactants Products

A chemical equation must have equality in terms of the atoms involved. This is
called a "balanced" equation. John Dalton was the first to propose that a chemical
reaction was just a rearrangement of the atoms involved. This would also agree
with the Law of Conservation of Mass (Matter). A math equation also requires
equality (16 + 144 = 160).

Notes:
 Diatomic molecules - although they are elements, they do not appear in nature
as single unbound atoms. There are 7 diatomic elements (7 dwarves!)

H2 O2 N2 F2 Cl2 Br2 I2

 Chemical equations also indicate the physical state of the substances involved
in a reaction. The following are the abbreviations used for the possible physical
states of substances:
(s) - solid (l) - pure liquid (g) - gas (aq) – aqueous

 Aqueous (Latin  aqua = water ) means "in water solution" or dissolved in water.
Is a substance "soluble" (aqueous) or "insoluble"? (We will use solubility rules to
aid us in determining this). Precipitates are insoluble solids, (s), formed by
mixing two aqueous, (aq), solutions.

Example:
Zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and zinc chloride.

Zn(s) + HCl(aq)  H2(g) + ZnCl2(aq) formulas!!!

Is there an equality (same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the
equation)?

1 atom Zn + 1 molecule HCl  1 molecule H2 + 1 formula unit ZnCl2


1 atom Zn + 1 atom H + 1 atom Cl  2 atoms H + 1 atom Zn + 2 atoms Cl

Violates the Law of Conservation of Mass! How do we make it equal?

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Should we write H2Cl2? NO! Changing the subscripts of a substance changes its
identity. Never change subscripts of correct formulas  only change coefficients.

2ZnCl2
coefficient subscript

Use two molecules of HCl: Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq)  H2(g) + ZnCl2(aq)


balanced chemical equation

Key Points:
 In writing chemical equations, the formulas must be written correctly first before
the equation can be balanced with coefficients.
 Do not assume that an atom on the product side will have the same subscript as
it did on the reactant side.

Practice:
1. Sodium metal combines with oxygen to make solid sodium oxide.

2. Water decomposes into its elements.

Types of Reactions
Most of the reactions we will study can be classified into 1 of 5 general types.

I. Synthesis (Combination) Reactions:


General form: A + B  AB
 This type of reaction typically takes place between two elements,
a metal (A) and a nonmetal (B).

Examples: Zn(s) + S(s)  ZnS(s)


2Na(s) + Cl2(g)  2NaCl(s)

Try: 2. Silver metal and powdered sulfur are heated to form silver sulfide.

3. Aluminum metal is heated and reacts with oxygen to form white


aluminum oxide.

II. Decomposition Reactions:


General form: AB  A + B

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 a compound is broken down into two simpler substances.
 to decompose the compound, we usually use heat or electricity.
Examples: 2H2O(l)  2H2(g) + O2(g)
2HgO(s)  2Hg(l) + O2(g)
NH4OH(s)  NH3(g) + H2O(l)

Try: 4. Sodium carbonate crystals are decomposed by heat.

5. Copper (II) hydroxide crystals are decomposed by heat.

III. Single Replacement Reactions:


General form: A + BC  AC + B
 element and a compound.
 the element A (usually a metal) replaces B (usually another metal) in the
compound, or
 the element B (usually a halogen) replaces C (usually another halogen)
 a metal replaces H from either water or an acid (producing H 2 gas)

Examples: Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq)  ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)


2Al(s) + 3Zn(NO3)2(aq)  2Al(NO3)3(aq) + 3Zn(s)
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
*when metals react with water, they produce hydroxide
compounds and hydrogen

Try: 6. Iron metal reacts with a solution of copper (II) nitrate.

7. Aluminum metal reacts with sulfuric acid.

IV. Double Replacement Reactions:


General form: AB + CD  AD + CB
 two compounds present. The products are determined by switching out the
two metals in each compound.

Example: AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq)  AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)

Try: 8. Solutions of barium nitrate and aluminum sulfate are mixed.

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 3


9. Solutions of lead (II) nitrate and potassium iodide are mixed.

V. Combustion ("Burning") Reactions:


General form: CxHy or CxHyOz + O2(g)  CO2(g) + H2O(g)
hydrocarbon

Example: methane (natural gas) CH4(g) + 2O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

Hint: Balance the atoms in alphabetical order: C, H, then O.

Try: 10. Propane (C3H8)

11. Methanol (CH3OH)

12. C8H18(l) (this molecule likely got you to school this morning)

Some important hydrocarbon molecules:


 methane = CH4
 propane = C3H8
 butane = C4H10
 octane = C8H18
 kerosene = C12H26
 glucose = C6H12O6
 sucrose = C12H22O11
 methanol = CH3OH
 ethanol = C2H5OH
 cellulose = C6H10O5
 paraffin wax = C20H42

Chemistry Raleigh Charter High School Dr. Genez 4

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