Important Chemical Reactions

(Can you identify which ones are redox reactions?)

 Combustion
Compound + Oxygen  Oxides
e.g. H2S + O2  SO2 + H2O

e.g. Blast furnace reactions

1. C + O2  CO2
2. C + CO2  2CO
3. 3CO + Fe2O3  3CO2 + 2Fe
4. CaCO3  CaO + CO2
5. CaO + SiO2  CaSiO3

 Acids and Alkalis

Reactions of acids Reactions of alkalis

1. Neutralisation
Acid + Alkali  Salt + Water
e.g. HCl + NaOH  NaCl + H2O

2. With metals 2. With ammonium salts

Acid + Metal  Salt + Hydrogen gas
e.g. 2HCl + Zn  ZnCl2 + H2
3. With carbonates
Acid + Carbonates
 Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide
e.g. 2HCl + CaCO3  CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
4. With basic oxides (bases)
Acid + Basic oxide  Salt + Water
e.g. 2HCl + MgO  MgCl2 + H2O
Alkali + Ammonium salt
 Salt + Water + Ammonia gas
e.g. NaOH + NH4Cl  NaCl + H2O + NH3
1. With acidic oxides
Alkali + Acidic oxide  Salt + Water
e.g. 2NaOH + SiO2  Na2SiO3 + H2O

Acidic oxides Basic oxides

(Recall: Metal oxides are basic) (Recall: Non-metal oxides are acidic)

1. With water 1. With water

Acidic oxide + Water  Acid Basic oxide + water  Alkali
e.g. P4O10 + 6H2O  4H3PO4 e.g. Na2O + H2O  2NaOH

Amphoteric oxides
(Which oxides are amphoteric?)

1.

2.
 3.

 Reactions involving metals and metal compounds

Conversion of ore into metal oxides

1. Calcination of carbonate ores

(Conditions: Heat in absence of air)
e.g. ZnCO3  ZnO + CO2
2. Roasting of sulfide ores
(Conditions: Heat in presence of excess oxygen)
e.g. 2ZnS + 3O2  2ZnO + 2SO2

Extraction from ores

Reactivit Extraction Method

y series

K Electrolysis of molten metal compound

e.g. 2Al2O3  4Al + 3O2
Na

Ca

Mg

Al

Zn Reduction by carbon (from coke)

(Conditions: Heat with coke)
Fe
e.g. ZnO + C  Zn + CO
Pb

Cu Reduction by heat
(Conditions: Heat with air)
Ag
e.g. 2CuO  2Cu + O2
Au

Displacement reactions (Refer to reactivity table above)

A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound
e.g. Fe + CuSO4  Cu + FeSO4

Reactions of Group I metals

1. Reactions with water

Very vigorous reactions take place between Group I metals and cold water
e.g. 2Na + 2H2O  2NaOH + H2
2. Reactions with oxygen
e.g. 4Li + O2  2Li2O
*Down the group, Group I metals may also form peroxides (O22-) and superoxides (O2-) in air

Reactions of Group II metals with H2O

1. Reactions with steam/water

- Beryllium shows no reaction with either steam/water
- Magnesium only reacts with steam
Mg (s) + H2O (g)  MgO (s) + H2 (g)
- Calcium, strontium and barium can react with cold water
e.g. Ca (s) + 2H2O (l)  Ca(OH)2 (aq, with some precipitation) + H2 (g)
2. Reactions with oxygen
Metal + Oxygen gas  Metal oxide
e.g. 2Mg + O2  2MgO
*Strontium and barium also burns in air to form peroxides (O22-)
3. Reactions with nitrogen
Metal + Nitrogen gas  Metal nitride
e.g. 3Mg + N2  Mg3N2
 Halogen reactions
Displacement reactions
Reactivity of halogens decreases down the group.
A more reactive halogen displaces a less reactive halogen from its compound
e.g. Cl2 + KI  KCl + I2

 Organic reactions
Alkanes

1. Substitution Reactions
Alkane + Chlorine  Chloroalkane + Hydrogen chloride
(Conditions: Heat or UV Light)
e.g. C2H6 + Cl2  C2H5Cl + HCl
2. Cracking
Larger alkane  Smaller alkanes + Alkenes
(Conditions: Heat or with catalyst)

Alkenes

1. Addition Reactions
a. With bromine
Alkene + Bromine  Bromoalkane
(Carried out in organic solvent i.e. no water present)
 e.g. C2H4 + Br2  C2H2Br2 + H2
b. With steam
Alkene + Steam  Alcohol
(Conditions: High temperature, high pressure and H 3PO4 as catalyst)
e.g. C2H4 + H2O  C2H5OH
c. With hydrogen (Hydrogenation)
(Conditions: High temperature and nickel as a catalyst)
e.g. C2H4 + H2  C2H6

Alcohols

1. Production of ethanol
Glucose  Ethanol + CO2
(Carried out by yeast cells)
2. Oxidation
Alcohol + [O]  Carboxylic acid + Water
e.g. CH3CH2OH + [O]  CH3COOH + H2O
3. Esterification (Condensation reaction)
Alcohol + Carboxylic acid  Ester + Water
e.g. CH3CH2OH + HCOOH  HCOOCH2CH3 + H2O

(Use chemical structures to represent this equation)