Chemical Reactions

The 5 Basic
Classifications
SYNTHESIS
 A reaction in which two or more
reactants yield a single product.
 Also called composition or
combination
 General Equation
A + B  AB

 EX: 2 Li + Se ---> Li Se
 Decomposition Reaction

One Reactant Breaking Down into two

or more products

General Equation
AB ---> A + B

Example:
2 HgO  2 Hg + O2
 What Is Combustion?
• One or more reactants combine with
oxygen releasing heat or light
– Any combustion reaction must include
the reactant oxygen, O2

– General Equation:
A + O2  AO

Example:
2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s)
 Single Replacement
 Sometimes called Displacement
 One element replaces a similar
element in a compound

A + BX  AX + B
2 Na + 2 HOH ----> 2 NaOH +
H2
Double Replacement
 Reaction that has the interchanging
of two ions from two different
compounds.
 general form:
AB + CD----> AD + CB
 Example:
Pb(NO3)2 + 2 KI ----> PbI2 +2
KNO3
 Double
Replacement
 Equation consists of two
reactants that have both a
cation and anion.
 During a reaction the cations
(or anions) switch places.
 The products usually consist of
a precipitate.
 Reaction Checklist
 1) Is O2 a reactant? (combustion)
 2) One product? (synthesis)
 3) One reactant? (decomposition)
 4) Is an element being replaced? (single)
 5) 2 switches? (double)
 EXOTHERMIC & ENDOTHERMIC REACTIONS

Exothermic process: a change (e.g. a chemical reaction)

that releases heat.

A release of heat corresponds to a decrease in enthalpy

Exothermic process: ∆H < 0 (at constant pressure)

Burning fossil
fuels is an
exothermic
reaction
 Endothermic process: a change (e.g. a chemical
reaction) that requires (or absorbs) heat.

An input of heat corresponds to an increase in enthalpy

Endothermic process: ∆H > 0 (at constant pressure)

Forming Na+
Photosynthesis is an and Cl- ions
endothermic reaction from NaCl is an
(requires energy input endothermic
from sun) process
 Measuring Heat

Exothermic reaction, heat

given off & temperature of
reaction
water rises

Endothermic reaction, heat

taken in & temperature of
reaction
water drops
 How do we relate change in temp. to the energy
transferred?

Heat capacity (J/oC) = heat supplied (J)

temperature (oC)

Heat Capacity = heat required to raise temp. of an object

by 1oC

• more heat is required to raise the temp. of a large

sample of a substance by 1oC than is needed for a
smaller sample
 Specific heat capacity is the quantity of energy
required to change the temperature of a 1g sample of
something by 1oC

Specific Heat Heat capacity

Capacity (Cs) =
Mass

J / oC / g J / oC
=
g
 Vaporisation
Energy has to be supplied to a liquid to enable it to overcome
forces that hold molecules together
• endothermic process (∆H positive)
Melting
Energy is supplied to a solid to enable it to vibrate more
vigorously until molecules can move past each other and flow
as a liquid
• endothermic process (∆H positive)
Freezing
Liquid releases energy and allows molecules to settle into a
lower energy state and form a solid
• exothermic process (∆H negative)
(we remove heat from water when making ice in freezer)
 Reaction Enthalpies

All chemical reactions either release or absorb heat

Exothermic reactions:
Reactants products + energy as heat (∆H -ve)

e.g. burning fossil fuels

Endothermic reactions:
Reactants + energy as heat products (∆H +ve)

e.g. photosynthesis
 Bond Strengths
Bond strengths measured by bond enthalpy ∆HB (+ve values)

• bond breaking requires energy (+ve ∆H)

• bond making releases energy (-ve ∆H)

Lattice Enthalpy

A measure of the attraction between ions (the enthalpy

change when a solid is broken up into a gas of its ions)
• all lattice enthalpies are positive
• I.e. energy is required o break up solids
 Enthalpy of hydration ∆ Hhyd

• the enthalpy change accompanying the hydration of gas-

phase ions
•Na+ (g) + Cl- (g) Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
• -ve ∆H values (favourable interaction)

WHY DO THINGS DISSOLVE?

• If dissolves and solution heats up : exothermic

•If dissolves and solution cools down: endothermic
 Ions
Breaking solid + = Dissolving
associating
into ions
with water

Lattice Enthalpy of = Enthalpy of

+ Solution
Enthalpy Hydration

Substances dissolve because energy and matter tend to

disperse (spread out in disorder)

2nd law of Thermodynamics