KS4 Chemistry

Chemical Reactions

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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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What is a chemical reaction?

What is a chemical reaction?
A chemical reaction is a change that takes place when
one or more substances (called reactants) form one or
more new substances (called products).
chemical reaction

reactants

products

There are many different types of chemical reactions.

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Types of chemical reaction

How many types of chemical reaction can you name?

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Types of chemical reaction

oxidation &
reduction

neutralization

thermal
decomposition

chemical
reaction

precipitation
reversible
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exothermic &
endothermic

displacement:
metals

displacement:
non-metals

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Exothermic and endothermic reactions

What are exothermic and endothermic reactions?
exothermic reactions give out energy they get hot
ex = out (as in exit)
thermic = relating to heat

endothermic reactions take in energy they get cold

en = in (as in entrance)
Most chemical reactions are exothermic.

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Examples of exothermic reactions

Many exothermic reactions occur in the lab and in everyday
life. Can you think of six exothermic reactions?
Exothermic reactions
Burning wood on a fire
Burning petrol in a car
Burning gas on a gas hob
Reacting an acid and alkali together
Burning magnesium
Rotting compost

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Irreversible reactions
Most chemical reactions are considered to be irreversible
because the products cannot easily be changed back into
reactants.
For example, once magnesium has reacted
with hydrochloric acid, it is difficult to get the
magnesium back.
magnesium

hydrochloric
magnesium

acid
chloride

hydrogen

In equations for irreversible

reactions, reactants and
products are joined by a
one-way arrow.
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Reversible reactions
Although most chemical reactions are difficult to reverse,
there are some reactions that are fully reversible.
One of the best known reversible reactions occurs when
copper sulfate crystals are heated.
hydrated
copper sulfate

anhydrous
copper sulfate

water

CuSO4.5H2O

CuSO4

5H2O

In equations for reversible

reactions, reactants and
products are joined by a
two-way arrow.
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Equilibrium reactions
In some reversible reactions, the forward and backward
reactions largely occur in the same conditions and at the
same rate.
These reaction are said to be in equilibrium there is no
overall change in the amount of products and reactants.
One of the most important equilibrium reactions occurs in
the production of ammonia in the Haber process:
nitrogen

hydrogen

ammonia

N2 (g)

3H2 (g)

2NH3 (g)

No matter how long the reaction is left, there will always be

a mixture of nitrogen, hydrogen and ammonia.
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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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Thermal decomposition
Thermal decomposition is a reaction in which a compound
is broken down by heat into two or more simpler substances.
Generally, the more reactive a metal, the harder it is to
decompose its compounds by heating.
For example:
silver carbonate:

decomposes on
gentle heating

calcium carbonate:

decomposes on
strong heating

increase in
reactivity of
metal

potassium carbonate: is not thermally

decomposed
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Thermal decomposition easy or hard?

Compound

Decomposition

mercury oxide

easy

sodium oxide

hard

iron oxide

medium

silver oxide

easy

zinc oxide

medium

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potassium
sodium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
copper
mercury
silver
gold

increase in reactivity

How easy will these metal compounds be to decompose:

easy, medium or difficult?

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Thermal decomposition of carbonates

When metal carbonates are heated, they decompose to
produce metal oxides and carbon dioxide.
This reaction is performed industrially to make calcium oxide
(quicklime) from calcium carbonate (limestone):
calcium
carbonate
CaCO3

heat

calcium
oxide

carbon
dioxide

CaO

CO2

Quicklime is used to make concrete and calcium hydroxide

(slaked lime).
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Thermal decomposition of metal oxides

Most metal oxides are thermally stable they do not
decompose when heated.
Oxides of the least reactive metals can be thermally
decomposed more easily. For example, mercury oxide
decomposes when heated strongly:
mercury
oxide
2HgO

heat

mercury condenses at
the top of the test
tube, where it is cooler
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mercury

oxygen

2Hg

O2
oxygen gas
escapes
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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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The reactivity series

potassium
sodium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
copper
mercury
silver
gold
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increase in reactivity

The reactivity series is a list of metals in order of their

reactivity.
The reactivity series can be
used to make predictions
about the reactivity of metals
for example, how a metal will
react with oxygen, water and
acids.

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Displacement reactions: metals

A metal displacement reaction occurs when a metal is
added to a compound of a less reactive metal.
more
reactive
metal

compound
less
of less
reactive
reactive
metal
metal

compound
of more
reactive
metal

The less reactive metal is displaced from the compound and

becomes elemental metal. The more reactive metal forms a
new compound.
A metal will always displace another
metal that is lower in the reactivity series.
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Displacement reactions examples

Will magnesium react with copper chloride?
magnesium

copper
magnesium

chloride
chloride

copper

Magnesium is more reactive than copper, so it displaces

copper from its compound.
Will silver react with magnesium chloride?
silver

magnesium
chloride

no reaction

Silver is less reactive than magnesium, so it does not

displace magnesium from its compound.
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The Thermit process

The Thermit process is a
displacement reaction between
aluminium and iron (III) oxide.
magnesium
fuse
iron oxide
aluminium powder
(thermite)
aluminium

iron oxide

Al

Fe2O3

aluminium

oxide

Al2O3

iron

Fe

Aluminium is more reactive than iron and displaces it

from the oxide.
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The Thermit process

The reaction between aluminium and iron oxide is so
exothermic that the displaced iron melts.

The reaction is used to weld iron and steel together;

for example, railway tracks.
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Is there a displacement reaction?

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Displacement reactions: halogens

A halogen displacement reaction occurs when a halogen is
added to a metal halide containing a less reactive halogen.
The less reactive halogen is
displaced from the compound
and the more reactive halogen
bonds with the metal to form a
new metal halide.
For example:

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fluorine

F2 (aq)

sodium
chloride

2NaCl (aq)

F
Cl

decrease in
reactivity

Br
I
sodium
fluoride

chlorine

2NaF (aq)

Cl2 (aq)
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Displacement reactions of halogens

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Is there a displacement reaction?

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Precipitation reactions
When two aqueous solutions are mixed, they may react to
form a product that is insoluble in water. The solid is called a
precipitate and the reaction is called a precipitation
reaction.
To predict whether a precipitation reaction will occur,
information on the solubility of the products is needed.
What are the symbols for these physical states?
solid

(g)

liquid

(l)

gas

(g)

aqueous
(aq)
(dissolved in water)
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Precipitation reactions: sulfur

The precipitation reaction between solutions of sodium
thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid is often used to measure
rates of reaction.
sodium
hydrochloric
thiosulfate +
acid

Na2S2O3
(aq)

2HCl
(aq)

Both reactants
are colourless.

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sodium
chloride

2NaCl

(aq)

sulfur
dioxide

SO2
(g)

sulfur

S
(s)

+ water
+

H 2O
(l)

Sulfur is insoluble
and precipitates,
turning the
solution cloudy.
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Precipitation reactions: copper hydroxide

Many metal hydroxides are insoluble and can be formed by
precipitation reactions. For example:
copper (II)
sulfate
CuSO4
(aq)

+
+

ammonium

hydroxide
2NH4OH
(aq)

Copper (II) sulfate

solution is blue.

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copper (II)
hydroxide
Cu(OH)2
(s)

ammonium
sulfate

(NH4)2SO4
(aq)

Copper (II) hydroxide

is insoluble and
forms a blue solid at
the bottom.
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Precipitation reactions: iron hydroxide

Iron (III) hydroxide is another insoluble metal hydroxide that
can be formed by a precipitation reaction.
iron (III)
chloride

FeCl3 (aq)

iron (III)
hydroxide

sodium
chloride

3NaOH (aq)

Fe(OH)3 (s)

3NaCl (aq)

sodium
hydroxide

Iron (III) chloride

solution is
yellow.

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Iron (III) hydroxide is

insoluble and forms a
deep brown solid at
the bottom.

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Precipitation and solubility

To help work out whether a precipitate will form in a reaction,
there are some general rules about solubility.
Soluble
All compounds of sodium, potassium and ammonium.
All nitrates.
Most chlorides, except silver and lead chlorides.
Most sulfates, except lead, barium and calcium sulfates.
Insoluble
Most carbonates and hydroxides, except those
of sodium, potassium and ammonium.

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Predicting precipitation reactions

There are three steps to working out whether a precipitate
will be formed in a reaction:
Example
1. Write down the names
sodium chloride & lead nitrate
of the reactants.
2. Swap over the
non-metal.

sodium nitrate & lead chloride

3. Are the products

soluble or insoluble?

Lead chloride is insoluble

and will form a precipitate.

sodium
chloride

2NaCl (aq)

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lead
nitrate

sodium
nitrate

Pb(NO3)2 (aq) 2NaNO3 (aq)

lead
chloride

PbCl2 (s)

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Will there be a precipitation reaction? (1)

Will a precipitate be formed when sodium nitrate and
magnesium sulfate react?
1. Write down the names
of the reactants.

sodium nitrate &

magnesium sulfate

2. Swap over the

non-metal.

sodium sulfate &

magnesium nitrate

3. Are the products

soluble or insoluble?

Both products are soluble

so no precipitate will form.
sodium
sulfate

sodium
nitrate

magnesium

sulfate

2NaNO3 (aq)

MgSO4 (aq) Na2SO3 (aq)

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magnesium
nitrate

Mg(NO3)2 (aq)

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Will there be a precipitation reaction? (2)

Will a precipitate be formed when sodium sulfate and
barium nitrate react?
1. Write down the names
of the reactants.

sodium sulfate &

barium nitrate

2. Swap over the

non-metal.

sodium nitrate &

barium sulfate

3. Are the products

soluble or insoluble?

Barium sulfate is insoluble

and will form a precipitate.

sodium
sulfate

Na2SO4 (aq)

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barium
nitrate

sodium
nitrate

Ba(NO3)2 (aq) 2NaNO3 (aq)

barium
sulfate

BaSO4 (s)

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Precipitation: true or false?

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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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Acids
What are acids? They are substances that:
Have a pH below 7.
Turn litmus red.
Turn universal indicator yellow, orange or red.
Form solutions containing H+ ions. The more H+ ions in
the solution, the stronger the acid.
Universal indicator pH scale

1 2 3 4 5 6
strong
acid
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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

weak
acid
neutral
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Common acids
What are some common acids?
Acid

Formula

Strength

sulfuric acid

H2SO4

strong

hydrochloric acid

HCl

strong

nitric acid

HNO3

strong

ethanoic acid
(vinegar)

CH3COOH

weak

1 2 3 4 5 6

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Bases
What are bases? They are substances that:
Have a pH above 7.
Turn litmus blue.
Turn universal indicator dark green, blue or purple.
Are capable of neutralizing acids.
Universal indicator pH scale

1 2 3 4 5 6

8 9 10 11 12 13 14
weak
base

strong
base

neutral
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More about bases

Bases are usually oxides, hydroxides or carbonates of metals.
Ammonia is a base that doesnt contain a metal.
Some bases are soluble in water they are called alkalis.
bases
pH > 7
alkalis
soluble
bases

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Most carbonates and hydroxides are

insoluble in water, except those of
sodium, potassium and ammonium.

All alkaline solutions contain OH ions.

The more OH ions in the solution, the
stronger the alkali.

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Common bases
What are some common bases?
Base

Formula

Strength

sodium hydroxide *

NaOH

strong

potassium hydroxide *

KOH

strong

calcium hydroxide *

Ca(OH)2

strong

ammonia *

NH3

weak

calcium carbonate

CaCO3

weak

* = the base is also an alkali

1 2 3 4 5 6
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8 9 10 11 12 13 14
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Neutralization reactions
A neutralization reaction occurs when an acid reacts with
a base or alkali to produce a neutral solution of salt and
water.

acid

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alkali

salt +

water

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Naming salts
The salt formed in a neutralization reaction takes its name
from both the base and the acid.
The first part of the salt comes from the first part of the base,
for example:
magnesium oxide

magnesium salt

ammonium hydroxide

ammonium salt

The second part of the salt comes from the acid:

sulfuric acid

sulfate

hydrochloric acid

chloride

nitric acid

nitrate

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What is the name of the salt?

What are the names of the salts formed from these bases
and acids?
Base

Acid

Salt

calcium hydroxide

hydrochloric acid

calcium chloride

magnesium oxide

nitric acid

magnesium nitrate

copper oxide

sulfuric acid

copper sulfate

aluminium hydroxide nitric acid

aluminium nitrate

potassium hydroxide sulfuric acid

potassium sulfate

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Neutralization reactions: hydroxides

When a hydroxide is mixed with an acid, OH ions react
with H+ ions from the acid to form water:
H+

OH

H2O

For example:
potassium
hydroxide

KOH (aq)

potassium
hydrochloric

chloride
acid
HCl (aq)

calcium
hydroxide

Ca(OH)2 (aq)

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sulfuric
acid

water

KCl (aq)

H2O (aq)

calcium
sulfate

water

CaSO4(aq)

2H2O (aq)

H2SO4 (aq)

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Neutralization reactions: oxides

When an oxide is mixed with an acid, O2 ions react with
H+ ions from the acid to form water:
2H+

O2

H2O

For example:

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calcium
oxide

CaO (aq)

copper
oxide

CuO (aq)

hydrochloric

acid

water

H2O (aq)

copper
sulfate

water

CuSO4 (aq)

H2O (aq)

CaCl2 (aq)

2HCl (aq)
sulfuric
acid

calcium
chloride

H2SO4 (aq)

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Neutralization reactions: carbonates

When a carbonate is mixed with an acid, CO32 ions react
with H+ ions from the acid to form water and carbon dioxide:
2H+

CO32 H2O

CO2

For example:
calcium
carbonate
CaCO3
(aq)

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calcium
nitric

nitrate
acid

water

carbon
dioxide

2HNO3 Ca(NO3)2
(aq)
(aq)

H2O
(aq)

CO2
(g)

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Complete the neutralization reaction

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Obtaining insoluble salts

How can insoluble salts be obtained?
1. The acid and alkali are mixed, and the salt forms by
precipitation.
2. The mixture of products is filtered, trapping the salt.
3. The salt is rinsed in distilled water, then left to dry.
For example, barium sulfate can be obtained by mixing
barium chloride with sulfuric acid.

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barium
hydroxide

BaOH2 (aq)

sulfuric
acid

H2SO4 (aq)

barium
sulfate

water

BaSO4 (s)

2H2O (aq)

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Obtaining soluble salts from bases

How can soluble salts be obtained following a reaction
between an acid and a base (insoluble)?
For example, obtaining copper sulfate from copper oxide and
sulfuric acid:
1. Copper oxide is added to sulfuric acid. When it is heated,
the copper oxide dissolves, forming a blue solution.
2. More copper oxide is added until no more will dissolve.
This means that all the acid has been used up.
3. The mixture is filtered to remove the excess copper oxide.
4. The filtrate is heated to evaporate some of the water.
When it cools, copper sulfate crystals will form.

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Obtaining soluble salts from alkalis (1)

How can soluble salts be obtained following a reaction
between an acid and an alkali (soluble)?
For example, the reaction between sodium hydroxide and
hydrochloric acid produces sodium chloride, which is soluble.
sodium
hydroxide

NaOH (aq)

hydrochloric

acid
HCl (aq)

sodium
chloride

water

NaCl (aq)

H2O (aq)

There is no obvious sign when the reaction is complete, so

an indicator must be used to show when the solution is
neutral.
This process is called titration.
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Obtaining soluble salts from alkalis (2)

To run the titration:
1. 25 cm3 of sodium hydroxide is added to a flask. Two drops
of the indicator phenolphthalein are added. This turns
pink.
2. Hydrochloric acid is added to the flask, a little at a time,
from a burette.
3. When all the alkali has reacted with the acid, the indicator
turns colourless. The amount of acid used is noted.
4. The experiment is repeated, but without adding the
indicator, as this makes the salt impure.
5. The salt solution is heated to evaporate the water.
Crystals of sodium chloride will remain.
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Matching reactants and salts

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Neutralization: true or false?

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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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What is redox?
What does redox mean?

reduction and oxidation

So far, these terms have been used to describe the gain and
loss of oxygen.
Oxidation = adding
oxygen to a substance.

Reduction = removing
oxygen from a substance.

E.g. production of iron

oxide during rusting

E.g. extracting iron from iron

oxide in a blast furnace.

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Oxidation and ions

When a metal burns, it is oxidized to form a metal oxide.
What happens to the metal atoms during the reaction?
Metal atoms lose electrons to form positive ions. The oxygen
atoms accept these electrons and form negative ions.
For example, when magnesium burns to form magnesium
oxide, each magnesium atom loses 2 electrons and becomes
a magnesium ion with a +2 charge.
2 electrons

Mg

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Mg2+ O2-

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Oxidation and electron loss

What has happened to magnesium when it reacts with
oxygen?
2 electrons

Mg

Mg2+ O2-

It has been oxidized.

It has lost electrons by changing from Mg to Mg2+.

Oxidation is the loss of electrons.

Magnesium can lose electrons to substances other than
oxygen, e.g. when it reacts with chlorine or sulfur. These
reactions both involve Mg Mg2+, so they are also oxidation.
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Reduction and ions

When iron is extracted from iron oxide (iron ore), the oxygen
is removed and the iron is said to be reduced.
When the oxygen is removed, 3 electrons are transferred
back to each iron ion, which become atoms.

O2O

2-

2-

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Fe3+
2 electrons
from each ion

Fe3+

Fe

O
O

Fe

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Reduction and electron gain

What has happened to iron when oxygen is removed?

O2O

2-

2-

Fe3+
2 electrons
from each ion

Fe3+

Fe

O
O

Fe

It has been reduced.

It has gained electrons by changing from Fe3+ to Fe.

Reduction is the gain of electrons.

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Electrons and OILRIG

An easy way to remember what happens to electrons during
oxidation and reduction is to think

Oxidation

OILRIG

Is
Loss of electrons
Reduction
Is
Gain of electrons
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Redox reactions
When a substance is oxidized, it loses electrons. Another
substance must gain these electrons and become reduced.
For example, when magnesium burns:
magnesium loses electrons:
Mg Mg2+ = oxidation
oxygen gains electrons:
O O2 = reduction
The overall reaction is reduction and oxidation = redox.
Oxidation and reduction
always take place together.
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Oxidized or reduced?
For each reaction, decide which product is oxidized and which
product is reduced.
calcium

oxidized
zinc oxide

oxygen
reduced

reduced
aluminium
oxidized

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calcium oxide

hydrogen zinc

water

aluminium oxide

oxidized

iron oxide iron

reduced

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Oxidized or reduced?

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Contents

Chemical Reactions
Introducing chemical reactions
Thermal decomposition
Displacement and precipitation
Neutralization
Redox
Summary activities
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Glossary (part 1)
displacement A type of reaction in which a metal or
halogen replaces a less reactive metal or halogen in a
compound.

equilibrium A type of reaction in which products are

broken down at the same rate as reactants are combining.

endothermic A type of reaction that takes in energy.

exothermic A type of reaction that gives out energy.
neutralization A type of reaction in which an acid and
base react to form a salt and water.

oxidation A type of reaction involving the loss of

electrons.
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Glossary (part 2)
precipitation A type of reaction in which two aqueous
solutions react to form an insoluble product.

reaction A change that takes place when one or more

substances form one or more new substances.

redox A type of reaction in which oxidation and reduction

take place together.

reduction A type of reaction involving the gain of

electrons.

decomposition A type of reaction in which a substance

is broken down into two or more simpler substances.

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Anagrams

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Identify the reactions

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Multiple-choice quiz

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