What is a chemical reaction?

A chemical reaction is the change of a substance into a new one

that has a different chemical identity.

How can I tell if a chemical reaction is occurring?

A chemical reaction is usually accompanied by easily observed
physical effects, such as the emission of heat and light, the formation
of a precipitate, the evolution of gas, or a color change. Absolute
confirmation of a chemical change can only be validated by chemical
analysis of the products.

Synthesis Reaction (Combination Reaction)

In a synthesis reaction, two or more substances combine to form a
new compound. This type of
reaction is represented by the following equation.

A + B AB

A and B represent the reacting elements or compounds while AB
represents a compound as the product.
The following examples are representative of synthesis reactions.

The combination of iron and sulfur to form iron (II) sulfide is an example of
a synthesis reaction:

8 Fe + S
8
8 FeS

Aluminum
and Bromine
Formation of Aluminum Bromide: When Al is placed on
the surface of liquid Br
2
an exothermic reaction occurs. The
Al is oxidized to Al
3+
by the Br
2
, which is reduced to Br
-
ions. The ionic product, AlBr
3
, can be observed on the
watch glass after the reaction.

Sodium and
Chlorine
Formation of Sodium Chloride: Molten sodium burns
when it is put into a container of chlorine gas. In the reaction
a sodium ion loses an electron to form a sodium cation and
a chlorine atom simultaneously gains an electron to form a
chloride anion. The product of the reaction is the ionic
compound sodium chloride, which is the white solid
observed.

Zinc and
Oxygen
Formation of Zinc Oxide: Oxidation is a loss of electrons
and reduction is a gain of electrons. The oxidation of metallic
Zn by O
2
to form ZnO
(s)
is illustrated at the molecular level.
The transfer of electrons from Zn to O
2
is shown. Atoms can
be observed to change as they are oxidized or reduced,
respectively to their ionic forms.

Sodium and
Potassium in
Water
Formation of Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium
Hydroxide: When a small piece of Na is added to a
solution containing an indicator, evidence of the reaction
can be observed by the change in the color of the solution
as NaOH is formed, by the melting of the Na and by the
movement of the Na caused by formation of hydrogen gas.
K is more reactive than Na as demonstrated by its reaction
with water. This reaction produces enough heat to ignite the
H
2
produced.

Chemical Decomposition or Analysis Reaction
In a decomposition reaction a compound is broken into smaller chemical
species.

AB A + B

The electrolysis of water into oxygen and hydrogen gas is an example of a
decomposition reaction:

2 H
2
O 2 H
2
+ O
2
Nitrogen Triiodide
Decomposition of Nitrogen Triiodide: Nitrogen triiodide is extremely
unstable when it is dry. Touching it with a feather causes it to decompose
explosively. The explosion occurs as chemical energy is released by the
decomposition of nitrogen triiodide to N
2
and I
2
. Violet iodine vapor can be
observed after the explosion.

Metathesis or Double Displacement Reaction
In a double displacement or metathesis reaction two compounds exchange
bonds or ions in order to form different compounds.

AB + CD AD + CB

An example of a double displacement reaction occurs between sodium
chloride and silver nitrate to form sodium nitrate and silver chloride.

NaCl(aq) + AgNO
3
(aq) NaNO
3
(aq) + AgCl(s)

Calcium
carbonate
and
Sulfurous
Acid

This marble statue has been eroded by acid rain. Marble is
a material having CaCO
3
as its primary component. Acids
react with and dissolve the marble. The acid comes from
sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere combining with water to
form sulfurous acid.

Lead (II)
Nitrate and
Potassium
Iodide

An aqueous solution of Potassium Iodide is added to an
aqueous solution of Lead (II) Nitrate forming lead (II)
iodide. The formation of a precipitate occurs when the
cations of one reactant combines with the anions of the
other reactant to form an insoluble or slightly insoluble
compound.

Single Displacement or Substitution Reaction
A substitution or single displacement reaction is characterized by one
element being displaced from a compound by another element.

A + BC AC + B


An example of a substitution reaction occurs when zinc combines with
hydrochloric acid. The zinc replaces the hydrogen:

Zn + 2 HCl ZnCl
2
+ H
2

Iron (III)
Oxide and
Aluminum

Reaction 2
Thermite Reaction: In the thermite reaction, Al reduces
Fe
2
O
3
to Fe in an extremely exothermic reaction in which Al
is oxidized to Al
2
O
3
. The reaction produces enough heat to
melt the iron. Because of the extreme heat produced in the
thermite reaction, it is used industrially to weld iron.

Copper (II)
Oxide and
Carbon
Reduction of CuO: When black carbon and black copper
oxide are heated together the Cu
2+
ions are reduced to
metallic Cu and a gas is evolved. When the gas is collected
in Ca(OH)
2
a white precipitate of CaCO
3
is formed. The
reaction which occurs involves the reduction of Cu
2+
ions by
carbon which is oxidized to CO
2
.

Silver
Nitrate and
Copper
Formation of Silver Crystals: When a copper wire is
placed in a solution of AgNO
3
, the Cu reduces Ag
+
to
metallic Ag. At the same time, Cu is oxidized to Cu
2+
. As the
reaction progresses Ag crystals can be seen to form on the
Cu wire and the solution becomes blue as a result of the
formation of Cu
2+
ions.

Tin (II)
Chloride and
Zinc

Formation of Tin Crystals: Oxidation-reduction chemistry
of Sn and Zn. When acidified Sn(II)Cl
2
is added to a beaker
containing a piece of Zn, some of the Sn
2+
reacts with H
+
in
the solution to produce H
2
gas. Immediate changes can also
be observed on the surface of the Zn as it quickly becomes
coated with Sn crystals. After the reaction has progressed
for a time needles of Sn can be observed on the surface of
the Zn.


References:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemicalreactions/a/reactiontypes.htm
http://www.ric.edu/faculty/ptiskus/reactions/