There are five types of reactions
Synthesis: A + B → AB This is when two elements react to create one product. An example of synthesis would be iron and sulfur coming together to form iron (II) sulfide. You could look at like a relationship, the single girl and the single boy come together as a couple.
Decomposition: AB → A + B This is the opposite of synthesis, instead of two elements coming together, it's one element coming apart into two. An example of decomposition is the electrolysis of water into hydrogen gas. Now unlike synthesis where the girl and boy got together, in this, the couple breaks up and becomes single again.
Single Replacement: AB + C → AC + B An example single replacement is zinc combining with hydrochloric acid. The zinc replaces the hydrochloric acid. Another way of looking at it is a couple and a single person who likes the girl. Somehow the single person ends up with the girl, while the boy becomes single.
Combustion: AB + CD → AC + BD In this reaction, a hydrocarbon reacts with the oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water. An example of this would be the burning of Methane. A way to look at this would be like two couples going on a double date then coming out of it with different partners.
Double Replacement: AB + CD → AD + CB There are two types of this reaction:
- Acid Base: The acid begins with Hydrogen and the base ends with Hydroxide. They produce a salt and water.
- Precipitation: A precipitate is a solid that is formed from two aqueous solutions.
Here are a few examples:
Synthesis
Decomposition
Combustion
Single Replacement
- PbCl(aq) + 2 AgNO3(aq) → Pb(NO3)2(aq) + 2 AgCl(s)
- NH3 (g) + HCl (aq) → NH4Cl (aq)
Synthesis
- 8 Al2S3(s) → 16 Al(s) + 3 S8(s)
Decomposition
- C12H22O11 (g) + O2(g) →CO2 (g) + H2O(g)
Combustion
- H2SO4 (aq) + Fe (s) → H2 (g) + FeSO4 (aq)
Single Replacement