- A synthesis reaction is when two or more reactants combine to form a compound.
Formula: A + B --> C
Examples:
- 1Ca + 1Cl₂ --> 1CaCl₂
- Na + Cl₂ -->
- 2Na + 1Cl₂ --> 2NaCl
- 1H₂ + 1F₂ --> 2HF
- Al + Cl₂ -->
- 2Al + 3Cl₂ --> 2AlCl₂
- 6Li + 1N₂ --> 2Li₃N
Decomposition
- A decomposition reaction is when a compound degrades into two or more products.
Formula: A --> B + C
Examples:
- 2H₂O --> 2H₂ + 1O₂
- KNO₃ -->
- 2KNO₃ --> 2KNO₂ + 1O₂
- NF₃ --> 1N₂ + 3F₂
- MgO -->
- 2MgO --> 2Mg + 1O₂
- 2NaCl --> 2Na + 1Cl₂
Single Replacement
- A single replacement(or displacement) reaction is when one element replaces another element in a compound.
Formula for Metal: A + BC --> AC + B
Formula for Non-Metal: A + BC --> BA + C
Examples:
- 6K + 1Al₂O₃ --> 3K₂O + 1Al
- Al + FeCl₂ -->
- 2Al + 3FeCl₂ --> 2AlCl₃ + 3Fe
- 2AgCl + 1Mg --> 2Ag + 1MgCl₂
- Zn + H₂SO₄ -->
- 1Zn + 1H₂SO₄ --> 1ZnSO₄ + 1H₂
- 1Cl₂ + 2KBr --> 2KCl + 1Br₂
Activity Series
- Elements higher on the chart can replace elements below it, but elements lower on the chart cannot replace elements higher on the chart.
For example:
Fe + Al2O3 --> N.R., because iron is lower on the activity series chart than aluminum, it cannot replace it. When this occurs we label it N.R. for no reaction.