Activity 8

Some Types of Chemical Reactions: An Introduction

Why?
Some common types of chemical reactions are ionization, dissociation, and precipitation. Specific reactions corresponding to these general reaction types are associated with health issues, environmental problems, and manufacturing processes. In order to use chemical reactions or evaluate their effects, you need to be able to identify the type of reaction and write a balanced equation for it.

LearnIng objecTIve
Recognize the characteristics of some different types of chemical reactions

success crITerIa
Identify and differentiate types of chemical reactions Write and balance reaction equations for each type of reaction

PrerequIsITes
Activity 3: Molecular Representations Activity 4: Alkane Nomenclature Activity 5: Balanced Chemical Reaction Equations

Activity 8 Some Types of Chemical Reactions: An Introduction

47

modeL:

Types of Reactions
Example HCl(g) + H2O(l) NH3(aq) + H2O(l) NaCl(s) Co(NO3)2(s)

Table 8.1

Reaction Type / Characteristic Ionization in water

H3O+(aq) + Cl(aq) NH4+(aq) + OH(aq)

substance reacts with water to produce ions

Dissociation in water

Na+(aq) + Cl(aq) Co2+(aq) + 2NO3(aq) H2O + KNO3(aq) AgCl(s) CH3CH2CN + Br CH2Br-CH2Br CH2=CH2 + H2O + Br

substance dissociates in water to produce ions

Neutralization

an acid and a base react to produce water and a salt

Precipitation in water

KOH(s) + HNO3(aq) Ag+(aq) + Cl(aq) CH3CH2Br + CN CH2=CH2 + Br2 CH2Br-CH3 + OH

a solid forms from ions in aqueous solution

Substitution reaction

one chemical species displaces another

Addition reaction

a chemical species adds to a double bond

Elimination reaction

a proton is removed, an ion leaves, and a double bond is formed

aq = aqueous, g = gas, s = solid, l = liquid

Key quesTIons
1. What are the characteristics of the reactions that are described in the model that you can use to identify the reaction? (You need to remember these characteristics; writing them will help you remember.) a) ionization
The substance reacts with water to form ions.

b) dissociation
The substance dissociates in water to form ions.

c) neutralization
An acid and a base react to produce water and a salt. 48
Foundations of Chemistry

d) precipitation
Ions in aqueous solution react to form a solid.

e) substitution
One chemical species displaces another.

f) addition
A chemical species adds to a double bond.

g) elimination
A proton is removed, an ion is eliminated, and a double bond is formed.

exercIses
1. Balance the following reactions and identify the reaction type. Ca(NO3)2(s)
Ca(NO3)2(s)

Ca2+(aq) + NO3 (aq)

Ca2+(aq) + 2 NO3 (aq) dissociation

H2PO4(aq) + H2O(l)
Balanced

HPO42(aq) + H3O+(aq)
ionization

Al3+(aq) + OH(aq)
Al
3+

Al(OH)3(s)
Al(OH)3(s) precipitation

(aq) + 3 OH (aq)

NaOH(s) + HCl(aq)
Balanced

H2O(l) + NaCl(aq)
neutralization

2. Write two ionization reactions that occur when carbonic acid H2CO3, a diprotic acid, is added to water. Diprotic means that two protons are acidic and can react with water and ionize.
H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) HCO3-(aq) + H2O(l) HCO3-(aq) + H3O+(aq) CO32-(aq) + H3O+(aq)

Activity 8 Some Types of Chemical Reactions: An Introduction

49

3. For the reaction between calcium nitrate and sodium sulfate in aqueous solution: a) Write the dissociation reaction equations for calcium nitrate and sodium sulfate when they dissolve in water.
Ca(NO3)2(s) Na2SO4(s) Ca2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) 2 Na+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

b) Using only the ions that are actually involved, write the precipitation reaction that forms CaSO4(s).
Ca2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) CaSO4(s)

InformaTIon
Your answer to Exercise 3(b) is a net ionic equation. Net ionic equation means that only the ions that react are included. The ions that do not react are omitted from the equation even though they are present in solution. The ions that do not react are called spectator ions.

4. Label each of the following reactions as substitution, addition, or elimination.

+ HBr

H Br HH

addition

Br

Br

substitution

Br + NaOH + H 2O + NaBr

elimination

50

Foundations of Chemistry

ProbLems
1. Label each of the following reactions as substitution, addition, or elimination. Complete the reaction equation by filling in the boxes with the missing compounds.

HBr
Br

addition

Cl

CN

+ KCN

KCl

substitution

2. Sodium methoxide (NaOCH 3 ) dissociates to produce OCH 3 , which reacts like OH . 2-Bromopentane and sodium methoxide can react together to form three different elimination 20 products and one substitution product. Draw these four possible products. Two of the elimination products are isomers.
15
luminescence intensity

Elimination products
SI( x) SII( x) SIII( x) 10

Substitution product

trans-2-pentene
5

cis-2-pentene
75 80 85 90 95 100 x wavelength in nm 105 110 115 120 125

1-pentene

Activity 8 Some Types of Chemical Reactions: An Introduction

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3. Identify the type of reaction and write the reaction equation for each of the following situations. a) Ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, dissolves in water to produce ions.
NH4Cl(s) NH4+(aq) + Cl -(aq) dissociation

b) A solid forms when sodium hydroxide, NaOH, is added to a solution of magnesium nitrate, Mg(NO3)2. Write the net ionic equation for this reaction.
Mg 2+(aq) + 2OH -(aq) Mg(OH)2 (s) precipitation

c) Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, reacts with acetic acid, CH3COOH. The proton attached to oxygen is the one that is acidic.
NaOH(aq) + CH3COOH(aq) NaCH3COO (aq) + H2O(l) neutralization

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Foundations of Chemistry