SYNTHESIS REACTION

PROCEDURE
1. Measure room temperature and record: _____0C
2. Place the steel wool in a beaker.
3. Pour vinegar on to the steel wool and allow it to soak in the vinegar for around one
minute.
4. Remove the steel wool and drain any excess vinegar.
5. Wrap the steel wool around the base of the thermometer and place them both in the
second beaker.
6. Cover the beaker with paper or a lid to keep the heat in (make sure you can still read the
temperature on the thermometer, having a small hole in the paper or lid for the
thermometer to go through is a good idea).
7. Check the initial temperature and monitor it for around 4 minutes.
8. Record the final temperature of the steel wool: ____0C. Was there a temperature
change?
9. Describe any changes to the steel wool. _____________________
10. Write a balanced equation. Include heat as a reactant or product.

DECOMPOSITION
PROCEDURE
1. Pour the yeast to the half-filled test tube of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The yeast
contains the enzyme catalase that decomposes hydrogen peroxide. What gas or gases
could be produced?
2. Review the table below for confirming 3 common gases.
3. Insert a flaming splint into the flask held at a 450 angle. Is the test positive for hydrogen
(See Figure 1)
4. Insert a glowing splint into the flask. Is the test positive for oxygen (see Figure 1).

Oxygen gas Insert a glowing splint into the container. If it burst back into
flame, the test is positive.
Hydrogen gas Insert a flaming splint into the container held at 450 angle. If there
is a small explosion or barking sound, the test is positive
Carbon dioxide gas Insert a flaming splint into the container. If the flame is
extinguished, the test is positive.
Figure 1. Standard test for 3 common gases
5. Write a balanced equation for this decomposition reaction.
SINGLE REPLACEMENT
PROCEDURE
1. Hold the test tube that is half –filled CuSO4 solution at a 450 angle and insert the nail.
2. Place the test tube in the test tube rack. What happens?
3. If you use a plain iron nail, here is the reaction:
Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) __________ (aq) + ___________(s)

A galvanized nail (coated with Zn), undergoes a different reaction:

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) __________ (aq) + _________(s)
4. Complete and balance both equations.

DOUBLE REPLACEMENT REACTION

PROCEDURE
1. Pour the baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3) from the spoon into the
half-filled test tube with vinegar (acetic acid, HC2H3O2)
2. Describe what happens.
3. Complete and balance the equation below for this reaction:
NaHCO3 + HC2H3O2 ___________(aq) + ___________ (aq)
4. One of the products, carbonic acid (H2CO3), immediately decomposes into water and a
gas. Complete and balance this equation and identify the gas with a flaming or glowing
splint:
H2CO3 H2O + _________ (g)
COMBUSTION
PROCEDURE

1. Pour the 1 mL of ethanol into the evaporating dish.

2. With a flaming splint, carefully ignite the ethanol in the dish. (This reaction occurs in
your car's engine if you use gasoline that contains ethanol.) Do not touch the dish
until 5 min after the flame extinguishes.
3. Complete and balance the equation for this reaction:
C2H5OH(l) + O2(g) → ______(g) + ______(g) + energy

4. The combustion reaction for a Bunsen burner uses methane (CH4) or propane (C3H8).
Complete and balance these 2 reactions:
CH4(g) + O2(g) → ______(g) + ______(g) + energy
C3H8(g) + O2(g) → ______(g) + ______(g) + energy