Download Reactions Flowchart

Reactions Flowchart
To determine how to predict the products of a chemical
reaction, you must look at the reactants to determine what type
of reaction you have.
If you have 1
reactant that
forms more
than 1 product
Decomposition
Reaction
• Binary Ionic  element +
element
2NaCl  2Na + Cl2
• Metal Hydroxide  Metal oxide
+ H2O
Ca(OH)2  CaO + H2O
• Metal Carbonate  Metal oxide
+ CO2
Li2CO3 LiO + CO2
• Metal bicarbonate  Metal
carbonate+ CO2 + H2O
NaHCO3  Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
•Metal Nitrate  Metal Oxide +
NO2 + O2
2Mg(NO3)2  MgO + 4NO2 + O2
• Metal Chlorate  Metal Chloride
+ O2
2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2
•Hydrate  Anhydrous Salt + H2O
CuSO45H2O  CuSO4 + 5H2O
If you have 2
reactants that
combine
Synthesis Reaction
• Element + element 
compound
Na + Cl2  2NaCl
N2 + 3H2  2NH3
• *Metal oxide + H2O  Metal
hydroxide
Na2O + H2O  2NaOH
• *Nonmetal oxide + H2O 
Oxyacid
P2O5 + 3H2O  2 H3PO4
SO3 + H2O  H2SO4
*These two types of reactions
look like a double replacement
reaction. Your clue that you have
a synthesis reaction is H2O as a
reactant.
If you have a
CXHY or CXHYOZ
compound as
your reactant
If you have an
element plus a
compound as
your reactants
Combustion Reaction Single Replacement
Reaction
•Complete combustion
CXHY + O2  CO2 + H2O
CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O
CXHYOZ + O2  CO2 + H2O
C2H6O + 3O2  2CO2 + 3H2O
If you have 2
compounds as
your reactants
and products
Double Replacement
Reaction
AB + CD  AD + CB
• Metal Activity Series
AgNO3 + NaBr AgBr + NaNO3
A + BC  AC + B
The two metals change places
2Al + 3Cu(NO3)2  2Al(NO3)3 + 3Cu
•Incomplete Combustion
CXHY + O2  CO + H2O
2CH4 + 3O2  CO + 4H2O
CXHYOZ + O2  CO + H2O
C2H6O + 2O2  2CO + 3H2O
• Nonmetal Activity Series
A + BC  BA + C
The two nonmetals change places
Cl2 + 2NaI  2NaCl + I2
*Remember to check your activity
series
To determine if a Double
replacement reaction happens,
you must check your products
against the following list:
1. Formation of H2O or weak acid
2. Formation of a gas
•H2CO3  CO2 + H2O
•H2SO3  SO2 + H2O
•NH4OH  NH3 + H2O
3. Insoluble product – a
precipitate, use your solubility
chart to determine