Classifying Chemical Reactions

Iris Farley
Purpose:
The purpose of the lab is to see the chemical reaction and the product when different
substances are mixed together.

Hypothesis:
Each mixture of substances will react causing a product and/or evidence of a chemical
reaction.

Procedure:
Material List:
Ammonium carbonate, (NH4 ) 2CO3 , 0.5g
Calcium carbonate, CaCO3 , 0.5g
Copper (II) chloride solution, CuCl2 , 0.5M , 4ml
Hydrochloric acid, HCl, 1 M, 4ml
Magnesium ribbon, Mg, 2-4cm strips, 2
Phenolphthalein indicator, 1 drop
Sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH, 1 M, 1ml
Sodium phosphate solution, Na3PO4 , 0.5 M, 1ml
Water, distilled
Zinc, mossy, or zinc shot, Zn, 1-2 pieces
Bunsen or laboratory burner
Matches
Forceps or crucible tongs
Litmus paper
Pipets, Beral-type, 6
Spatula
Test tubes, small, 6
Test tube clamp
Test tube rack
Wash bottle
Wood splints, 3

Directions:
Reaction One:
1. Obtain a 3-4 cm strip of magnesium metal ribbon. Hold the piece of magnesium with
forceps or crucible tongs and heat the metal in a laboratory burner flame. Caution: Do not
look directly at the burning magnesium- ultraviolet light that is produced may damage
your eyes.
2. When the magnesium ignites, remove it from the flame.
3. Turn off the laboratory burner and observe the properties of the product.
4. Record observations

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Reaction Two:
1. Using a Beral-type pipet, add about 2mL (40 drops) of 1M hydrochloric acid solution to a
small test tube
2. Obtain a 2-3 cm strip of magnesium metal ribbon. Coil it loosely into a small ball. Add
the magnesium metal ball to the acid in the test tube.
3. Carefully feel the sides of the test tube and observe the the chemical reaction taking place
for about 30 seconds.
4. While the reaction is still occurring, light a wood splint and quickly place the burning
splint into the mouth of the test tube. Do not put the burning splint into the acid solution!
5. Record observations.

Reaction Three:
1. Obtain a clean, dry test tube and place a small amount (about the size of a jelly bean) of
ammonium carbonate into the test tube.
2. Use a test tube clamp to hold the test tube and gently heat the tube in a laboratory burner
flame for 30 seconds.
3. Remove the test tube from the flame. Place a piece of litmus paper, moistened with
distilled water, in the mouth of the test tube. Identify any odor by wafting the fumes. Do
NOT sniff the test tube directly!
4. Light a wood splint and insert the burning splint half way down into the test tube.
5. Record observations

Reaction Four:
1. Place a small amount (the size of a jelly bean) of calcium carbonate in a clean, dry test
tube.
2. Using a Beral-type pipet, add about 1 mL (20 drops) of 1 M hydrochloric acid into the
test tube. Fel the sides of the test tube and observe reactions for 30 seconds.
3. Quickly light a wood splint and insert the burning splint about halfway down into the test
tube. Do NOT allow the burning splint to have contact with the solution!
4. Record observations.

Reaction Five:
1. Using a Beral-type pipet, add about 2 mL (40 drops) of 0.5 M copper (II) chloride
solution into a small test tube.
2. Add 1-2 pieces of mossy zinc or 1 piece of zinc shot to the test tube.
3. Record observations.

Reaction Six:
1. Using a Beral-type pipet, add about 2mL (40 drops) of 0.5 M copper (II) chloride
solution into a small test tube.
2. Using a fresh pipet, add about 25 drops of 0.5 M sodium phosphate solution to the test
tube.
3. Record observations.

Reaction Seven:

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 1. Using a Beral-type pipet, add 20 drops of 1 M sodium hydroxide solution into a small test
tube.
2. Add 1 drop of phenolphthalein indicator to the test tube and mix the solution gently
swirling the tube. Hint: Phenolphthalein is called an acid-base indicator.
3. Using a clean Beral-type pipet, add 1 M hydrochloric acid solution, one drop at a time, to
the test tube. Count the number of drops of acid required for a permanent color change to
be observed.
4. Record observations.

Observations:
In many reactions hydrochloric acid was used. Its a clear liquid with little to no smell.
Sodium phosphate is similar to the hydrochloric acid in color. Another liquid used was copper
(II) chloride solution. A clear, blue liquid that was mixed with both liquids and solids to form a
chemical reaction. Ammonium carbonate is a clumpy, white solid that seems to jump in heat.
Calcium carbonate is also a white solid, but was used in a powdery form. Magnesium metal
strips were also a solid that was used in chemical reactions. Its a shiny, malleable metal that was
used and turns to a white, ashy powder after being heated. Zinc shot is similar in the metallic,
shiny, grey appearance. It is non malleable and is very rigid. All were used in the chemical
reactions.

Data/Results:

Reaction Evidence of a Chemical Reaction Final Appearance

1 bright light, ultra violet rays ashy, white, no longer a hard

solid

2 heat, bubbling, smoke (gas), water drops cloudy grey, whitish, loud
(condensation), color change (cloudy grey) pop when exposed to a flame

3 smell change (horrible), acidic gas (litmus paper smoke at the bottom, white
change color), lack of air circulation (smoke clump
stayed at the bottom of the test tube)

4 bubbling clumpy, layered (top layer

clear), smoke remained,
cloudy greyish white bottom
layer

5 change of color in the metal (black, reddish reddish brown metal, greenish

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 brown), condensation, change of color in the blue liquid
liquid

6 change of state (thickened), color change laundry detergent

consistency, light blue

7 color change bright pink, liquid

Conclusion:
There were many possible errors during the lab. For instance, the counting for how long
to hold the substance over a flame could have been miscounted and the substance could have
been heated for a too long or a too little amount of time than called for in the lab directions.
Another possible error could be the number of drops added to the test tube. Due to the fact that a
graduated cylinder or a more precise form of measurement was not used, the amount of a
substance added could have been errored. There could also be an error in time for the adding of
the burning wood splint into the reaction to test for a gas product. Again, the burning splint could
have been added too soon or too early to the reaction causing an error in the observation for a gas
product.
The hypothesis was correct, each mixture of substances will react causing a product
and/or evidence of a chemical reaction. Evidence of a chemical reaction can be shown in a
change of color, odor, condensation, change of state, or the formation of gas. Each reaction done
had at a piece of evidence for a chemical reaction, some had more than others. All of the
reactions also had a product that was formed.
Chemical reactions occur when two substances mix and make a product of some kind.
While producing this product, the evidence of a chemical reaction is often observed. The
evidence can be a change of color, a change of state, an odor, or a formation of gas or
condensation. A chemical reaction occurs in everyday things. For example, cooking. Mixing
substances like vinegar and baking soda makes a chemical reaction that can be shown by
bubbling and the formation of gas. Chemical reactions take place in many things that are done
everyday.
The experiment could be redone to get more precise and accurate information or data.
Exact measurements of the substances could make the experiments data more exact. Jelly bean
sized or about 2mL would be changed to a more exact measurement like, 2mL or 10 g.
The changes would also mean a change or addition to the materials list. The changes would be a
graduated cylinder for exact measurements of liquids, weigh boats to hold solid or powder

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materials, and a scale to measure the mass of the object to help insure exact measurements of
solids as well. These changes could help the data be more accurate and precise.
The experiment went as expected with no complications or errors. It was observed in
another experiment a test tube being overheated and melting. The reaction had to then be tested
again in order to get accurate or reliable information. The next reaction that should be tested is
instead of mixing two substances, add another substance to intensify the reaction. This could be
hydrochloric acid and magnesium being heated or heating copper (II) chloride and zinc.

Post Lab Questions:

1. Write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction for numbers 1-7. Classify each
reaction using the information provided in the background section. Reaction #1: 2Mg +
O2 2MgO combustion

Reaction #2: 2HCl + 2Mg 2MgCl + H2 single replacement

Reaction #3: NH4CO3 + O2 CO2 + H2O + N combustion
Reaction #4: CaCO3 + HCl CaCl + HCO3 double replacement
Reaction #5: CuCl + Zn ZnCl + Cu single replacement
Reaction #6: CuCl + Na3PO4 NaCl + CuPO4 double replacement
Reaction #7: NaOH + Phenolphthalein indicator NaOh phenolphthalein indicator,
combination

2. Classifying chemical reactions helps chemists predict the possible products that will for
when two or more substances are mixed. Complete and balance the following equations
by predicting the products of each chemical reactions.

A. double replacement: NaOH (aq) + CuSO4 (aq) NaSO4 + CuOH

B. combination: Al (s) + O2 (g) AlO
C. combustion: C6H12O6 (s) + 6O2 (g) 6CO2 + 6H2O
D. decomposition: CaCO3 (s) CaCO3 + O2
E. single replacement: Fe (s) + Pb (NO3)2 (aq) Fe(NO3)2 + Pb

3. Write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction and classify the reaction.

1. Copper metal heated with oxygen gives solid copper (II) oxide, 4Cu + O2
2Cu2O combination

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2. Mixing ammonium nitrate and sodium hydroxide solution and gives aqueous
sodium nitrate, ammonia gas, and water. NH4(NO3)4 + NaOH NaNO3 + NH4 +
H2O decomposition
3. Mercury (II) nitrate solution reacts with potassium iodide solution to give a
mercury (II) iodide precipitate and potassium nitrate solution. HgNO3 + KI
HgI +KNO3 double replacement
4. Aluminum metal and sulfuric acid yield aqueous aluminum sulfate and hydrogen
gas. Al + HSO3 AlSO4 + H2 single replacement
5. Acetic acid and lithium hydroxide solution produce water and aqueous lithium
acetate. HC2H3O2 + LiOH H2O + LiC2H3O2 decomposition
6. Sulfur dioxide gas reacts with oxygen on a platinum catalyst surface to produce
sulfur trioxide gas. SO2 + O2 SO3 combination
7. Sodium metal reacts with water to give sodium hydroxide solution and hydrogen
gas. Na + H2O NaOH + H decomposition
8. Heating solid nickel chloride dihydrate yields solid nickel chloride and water
vapor. NiClH2 NiCl +H2O combustion
9. Heating solid potassium chlorate in the presence of manganese dioxide catalyst
produces potassium chloride and oxygen gas. KClO3 + MnO2 KCl + O2
decomposition