If you are studying chemistry, you may have encountered different types of chemical reactions, such as combination, decomposition, single-replacement, double-replacement, and combustion. These reactions can be classified based on the changes that occur in the reactants and products. In this article, we will provide a brief overview of each type of reaction and some examples with answer keys to help you with your homework.
A combination reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a single product. The general form of a combination reaction is:
A + B â AB
For example, when magnesium metal reacts with oxygen gas, they form magnesium oxide:
2Mg (s) + O2 (g) â 2MgO (s)
A decomposition reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances. The general form of a decomposition reaction is:
AB â A + B
For example, when water is heated, it decomposes into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas:
2H2O (l) â 2H2 (g) + O2 (g)
A single-replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which one element replaces another element in a compound. The general form of a single-replacement reaction is:
A + BC â AC + B
For example, when zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid, it replaces hydrogen and forms zinc chloride and hydrogen gas:
Zn (s) + 2HCl (aq) â ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
A double-replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two compounds exchange ions or atoms to form new compounds. The general form of a double-replacement reaction is:
AB + CD â AD + CB
For example, when sodium chloride reacts with silver nitrate, they form sodium nitrate and silver chloride:
NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) â NaNO3 (aq) + AgCl (s)
A combustion reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen to produce heat and light. The general form of a combustion reaction is:
CxHy + O2 â CO2 + H2O
For example, when methane gas burns in air, it produces carbon dioxide and water:
CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) â CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)
We hope this article has helped you understand the types of chemical reactions and how to solve some homework problems. For more information and examples, you can check out the following sources: