Chemical Reactions

February

D1: During chemical reactions, collisions between particles result in

rearrangement to form new particles. Bonds between atoms break
and reform. Bond breaking requires energy and bond making
releases energy.
Reactants: the substances being combined in a reaction;
appear on the left side of an equation.
Products: the substances being formed in a reaction; appear on
the right.
Evidence of chemical reaction: colour change, odour change,
a new state appears (e.g. a gas appears or a solid precipitate
appears), energy is absorbed or released, new substances appear
with new properties.
D2. The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the total initial
mass equals the total final mass in any chemical reaction.
Atoms are also conserved so we must balance equations by
putting coefficients in front of each species in an equation to
ensure the same number of atoms of each type appear on both sides.
We see evidence of the law by conducting chemical reactions
in a closed system (nothing enters or leaves). Mass is conserved.
Balancing Tips:
1. Ensure proper formulae for reactants and products.
2. Begin with an element that occurs in only one place on each
side.
3. It is useful to begin with a metal, not O or H.
4. You can temporarily use (or 3/2 or 5/2 etc.) as a coefficient
if needed to balance diatomic gas species.
5. Always double-check your answers!
Use the following abbreviations to indicate the state of each
species.
(s) : solid
(l) : liquid
(g) : gas. The 7 diatomic gases are: H2, O2, N2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2
(aq) : aqueous . This is a solid dissolved in water.

D3: Steps for writing equations:

1. Write the formulae of all species (consider combining
capacity)
2. Place reactants on the left and products on the right of the
arrow.
3. Include (s), (l), (g), and (aq) as appropriate.
4. Balance.
5. Check your answer.
Types of chemical reactions:
1. Synthesis: aka Formation: Elements combine to make a
compound
2. Decomposition: A compound breaks down to form elements.
3. Single Replacement: An element plus a compound react to
make an element plus a compound. The element kicks out half of the
compound.
4. Double Replacement: Two ionic compounds react to yield
two ionic compounds. The metals switch places.
5. Neutralization: Acid plus base yields water plus a salt (ionic
compound).
6. Combustion: A hydrocarbon plus O2 burns to give CO2 and
H2O.

D4 Exothermic reactions: energy/heat is released from a

system to the surroundings. Beaker may feel warm. Products have
lower energy.
Endothermic reactions: Energy/heat is absorbed by a system
from the surroundings. Heat or electricity is generally required.
Products have higher energy.

 For exothermic reactions less energy is needed to break the

bonds of the reactants than is released by bond formation in the
products, but for endothermic reactions more energy is needed to
break the bonds of the reactants than is released by bond formation
in the products. (Bond breaking needs energy, bond forming
releases energy).
When writing equations, we put energy on the right for
exothermic reactions, but on the left for endothermic. Or we can
include a number of kJ required/released.
D5: Stoichiometry: The relationship between the amounts of 2
species in a chemical reaction. (Mole Ratio)
Avogadros Hypothesis: Equal volumes of gases, at the same
temperature and pressure contain the same number of particles.
The coefficients in a balanced equation represent the relative
number of molecules or moles (the mole ratio) of reactants and
products.
To solve stoichiometry problems, use this guide:

 A limiting reagent (reactant) is the one which is completely

consumed in a chemical reaction. It determines the yield of the
product(s).
A reagent in excess is one which is present in more than the
required amount.
To determine the amount in excess, use the limiting reagent
and the mole ratio to find the amount consumed using the road map
above, then subtract this from the amount given.

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