classifying chemical reactions

Single Displacement/Replacement

element + compound > element + compound

Double displacement/replacement

compound + compound > compound + compound

Decomposition

compound > two or more elements or compounds

Synthesis

element or compound + element or compound > compound

Combustion

hydrocarbon + oxygen > carbon dioxide + water

For single replacement reactions only: water behaves as HOH when....

It reacts with an alkali metal (column 1) and alkaline earth metals (column 2) to hydrogen and a metal hydroxide

example: Na + H_2O

2Na + 2HOH > H_2 + 2NaOH

For double replacement reactions only: when H2CO3, carbonic acid, is formed it....

immediately undergoes decomposition forming H2O, water, and CO2, carbon dioxide

For double replacement reactions only: when NH4OH, ammonium hydroxide, is formed it....

immediately undergoes decomposition forming H2O, water, and NH3, ammonia

For double replacement reactions only: when H2SO3, sulfurous acid, is formed it....

immediately undergoes decomposition forming H2O, water, and SO2, sulfur dioxide

For decomposition reactions only: a metal hydroxide decomposes to form.....

a metal oxide and water

example:

Ca(OH)_2 > CaO + H_2O

For decomposition reactions only: a metal carbonate decomposes to form.....

a metal oxide and carbon dioxide

example:

CaCO_3 > CaO + CO_2

For decomposition reactions only: a metal chlorate decomposes to form.....

a metal chloride and oxygen

example:

2KClO_3 > 2KCl + 3O_2

For decomposition reactions only: an oxyacid decomposes to form.....

a non-metal oxide and water

example:

H_2SO_4 > SO_3 + H_2O

H_2CO_3 > CO_2 + H_2O

For combustions reactions only: the reactants will always be a hydrocarbon and oxygen which will form.....

carbon dioxide and water

example:

2C_2H_2 + 5O_2 > 4CO_2 + 2H_2O

For ALL single replacement reactions you must check the activity series, which will be provided, to see if......

the substance that is alone, is above the substance it is trying to bump then the reaction will proceed using the normal single replacement rules

the substance that is alone, is below the substance it is trying to bump then NO REACTION occurs (do not predict products, write no reaction)