Sidney Craig

C1/2

Chemical Reactions Lab

Purpose
Observe the five major types of reactions. Write complete balanced equations for these
reactions. Determine if the reaction can be classified as oxidation-reduction, precipitation
or acid-base.

Section 1: Synthesis reactions: A + B  AB

Reaction 1: Steel wool (iron with a +3 charge) combines with oxygen.
1. Record at least two changes you observe.
 Sparks flew off of the steel wool
 The wool lit up
2. Give the complete balanced equation for this reaction.
4Fe(s)+3O2(g)2Fe2O3(s)
Reaction 2: Copper wool (copper with +1 charge) combines with oxygen.
1. Record observations; write a complete balanced equation for the reaction.
 Copper wool turned grey
 Copper wool became fragile, some parts fell apart
2Cu(s)+O2(g) Cu2O(s)
Reaction 3: Magnesium combines with oxygen.
1. Record observations; write a complete balanced equation for the reaction.
 Began glowing brightly
2Mg(s)+O2(g) MgO(s)
Reaction 4: Combination of calcium oxide and water.
1. What color were the contents of the test tube after the indicator was added? Does this
color indicate an acid or a base?
After the indicator was added, the contents turned blue, indicating a base.
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
CaO(s)+H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(aq)
Reaction 5: Combination of carbon dioxide and water.
1. Observe and record the color of the mixture.
The mixture was transparent, after the indicator was added, the mixture was tinted
yellow.
2. Your reactants are water and carbon dioxide. What acidic product can you predict for
this combination reaction?
The product will be acidic because of the hydrogen ions present in the formula.
3. Give a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
CO2(g)+H2O(l)H2CO3(aq)

Section II: Decomposition reactions: AB A + B

Reaction 6: Hydrogen peroxide decomposition.
1. Record observations
 The mixture became dark grey and bubbled
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2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
MnO2
H2O2(l) O(g)+H2O(l)
Reaction 7: Sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposition.
1. Record your observation.
 Condensation formed on the test tube was the sodium hydrogen carbonate was
heated.
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.

2NaHCO3(s)  CO2(g)+H2O(g)+Na2CO3(s)\

Section III: Single displacement reactions: A + BC  AC + B

Reaction 8: Reaction of calcium and water.
1. Does the color indicate the presence of an acid or a base? What is this product?
The indicator was blue, indicating a basic solution.
2. Record your observations.
 Cloudy white mixture began to bubble.
 The lighted splint popped, indicating the presence of hydrogen gas.
3. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
Ca(s)+2H2O(l)Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Reaction 9: Reaction of zinc and hydrochloric acid.
1. Record your observations
The mixture bubbled.
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
2HCl(aq)+Zn(s)H2(g)+ZnCl2(aq)
Reaction 10: Reaction of zinc and lead (II) nitrate
1. Record your observations.
 The liquid in the test tube bubbled
 The zinc appeared to get fuzzier and darker
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
Zn(s) + Pb(NO3)2(l) Zn(NO3)2(l)+ Pb(s)

Section IV: Double displacement reactions – AB + CD  AD + CB

Reaction 11: Sodium carbonate reacts with barium nitrate
1. Record your observations.
 The liquid turned white and cloudy and a precipitate formed
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
Ba(NO3)2(aq)+Na2CO3(aq)→BaCO3(s) +2NaNO3(aq)
Reaction 12: Lead (II) nitrate reacts with potassium iodide.
1. Record your observations
 The mixture turned bright yellow when combined
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
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Pb(NO3)2(aq)+2KI(aq)→PbI2(s)+2KNO3(aq)
Reaction 13: Sodium hydrogen carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid.
1. Record your observations.
 The liquid bubbled rapidly and foamed
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
3. 2HCl(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) CO2(g) + 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
Reaction 14: Calcium carbonate reacts with hydrochloric acid.
1. Record your observations
 The mixture bubbled and rose to the top of the test tube
2. Write a complete balanced equation for your reaction.
CaCO3(s +2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq)+CO2(g)+H2O(l)

Section V Combustion of hydrocarbons – Hydrocarbon + O2CO2+H2

Reaction 15: The combustion of methane
1. Light the burner and record a description of the flame for your observation.
 The flame was red-orange at the top and blue at the base
2. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
CH4(g)+2O2(g) CO2(g)+H2O(g)
Reaction 16: The combustion of ethanol.
1. Place 20 drops of ethanol (C2H5OH) onto a watch glass.
2. Light a wooden splint and place it near the ethanol.
3. Record your observation.
 On the watch class, the ethanol burned as a small flame, blue at the base and yellow at
the top
4. Write a complete balanced equation for this reaction.
C2H5OH(g)+3O2(g) 2CO2(g)+3H2O(g)
Analysis-
1. Determine if each reaction as oxidation-reduction.
Reaction 1: Redox
Reaction 2: Redox
Reaction 3: Redox
Reaction 4: Acid-base
Reaction 5: Acid-base
Reaction 6: Redox
Reaction 7: Not redox
Reaction 8: Redox
Reaction 9: Redox
Reaction 10: Redox
Reaction 11: Precipitate
Reaction 12: Precipitate
Reaction 13: Not redox
Reaction 14: Not redox
Reaction 15: Redox
Reaction 15: Redox
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2. For the oxidation-reduction reactions identify the reactant that was oxidized and the reactant
that was reduced.
Reaction 1: The oxygen gas was reduced and the iron was oxidized.
Reaction 2: The oxygen gas was reduced and the copper was oxidized.
Reaction 3: The oxygen gas was reduced and the magnesium was oxidized.
Reaction 6: One of the oxygens in the H2O2 was oxidized and became oxygen gas whereas the
other that became part of the H2O was reduced.
3. For the non-oxidation-reduction reactions identify whether a precipitate, a gas or water was
produced.
Reaction 4: Water and a salt was produced.
Reaction 5: Water and a salt was produced.
Reaction 7: Water and gas was produced.
Reaction 11: A precipitate was produced.
Reaction 12: A precipitate was produced.
Reaction 13: Water and gas was produced.
Reaction 14: Water and gas was produced.