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AP Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Notes - Types of reactions
Mr. Ferwerda, Tecumseh HS
06/22/17
Name :
Date :
I. Introduction to writing AP equations
One section of the AP test is always on writing chemical equations. The AP student will be expected to
complete three reactions (recommended time allotment during the test is 15 min) in which he/she will have to
predict the products, write and balance the equation for the reaction and answer a question regarding the
reaction. Aspects of equation writing you should know are :
- in all cases a reaction will take place (no "no reaction" answers)
- there are no equilibrium ("double arrow") reactions
- equations need to be balanced
- the symbols (aq), (l), (g), and (s) are not necessary
- all equations are to be written as net ionic equations (no spectator ions present)
- all aqueous ions are written as aqueous ions (NaCl(aq) is "Na+ + Cl-")
- molecular compounds, insoluble compounds, solids,, liquids, and suspended compounds
are written in their molecular form (solid NaCl is "NaCl)".
- Charges shown on ions must be correct.
Each equations is worth five points, one for the correct reactants, two for the correct products and two for the
correct answer to the given question. Points are lost for the presence of spectator ions and ionic species written
as molecular.
Examples :
a. Equal volumes of 0.1 M hydrobromic acid and 0.1 M sodium hydroxide are combined.
Ans. H+ + OH-  H2O
b. Magnesium metal is added to a solution of zinc chloride.
Ans. Mg + Zn2+  Mg2+ + Zn
A. Single replacement (or "single displacement")
1. metal displaces hydrogen from either water or an acid
 metal + acid  salt and hydrogen gas
 e.g. Mg(s) + 2 HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
(Net : Mg + 2H+  Mg2+ + H2)
 Group 1A or 2A metal and water  base and hydrogen gas
 e.g. 2Li(s) + 2H2O(l)  2LiOH(aq) + H2(g) (Net : Li + 2H2O  Li+ + OH- + H2)
2. a more reactive metal replaces a less reactive metal ion from solution(see activity series)
 e.g. ZnCl2(aq) + Mg(s)  MgCl2(aq) + Zn(s) ( Net : Zn2+ + Mg  Mg2+ + Zn )
3. a halogen replaces another halogen
 e.g. MgBr2(aq) + F2(g)  MgF2(aq) + Br2(l) ( Net : 2 Br - + F2  2 F - + Br2 )
4. Hydrides of alkali metals react with water to form hydroxides :
• e.g. LiH(s) + H2O(l)  LiOH + H2(g) (Net : LiH + H2O  Li+ + OH- + H2)
B. Double replacement (metathesis) (must form precipitate, gas or molecular compound)
1. formation of an insoluble ionic compound (precipitate) -solubility rules will need to be memorized!!
Solubility Rules
a. Nitrates, chlorates and acetates are soluble.
b. Group 1 salts and ammonium salts are soluble.
c. Most chloride, bromide and iodide salts are soluble, except for salts of Ag+, Pb2+
and Hg22+.
d. Most sulfate salts are soluble. Exceptions include PbSO4, CaSO4, HgSO4 and
BaSO4.
e. Most hydroxide salts are slightly soluble (will form a precipitate). Ba(OH)2,
Sr(OH)2 and Ca(OH) 2 are marginally soluble.
f. Most sulfide, chromate, carbonate and phosphate salts are only slightly soluble.

e.g. BaCl2(aq) + MgSO4(aq)  BaSO4(s) + MgCl2(aq) ( Net :Ba2+ + SO42-  BaSO4(s))
AP Chemistry
Mr. Ferwerda, Tecumseh HS
06/22/17
2. neutralization reaction between an acid and a base (forms water)
Common
a. strong acid/strong base :
gases :
 e.g. HCl + NaOH  H2O + NaCl (net : H+ + OH-  H2O)
H2S
b. strong acid/weak base
CO2
 e.g. HCl + NH3  NH4Cl (net : H+ + NH3  NH4+)
SO2
 e.g. HCl + CH3NH2  CH3NH3Cl (net : H+ + CH3NH2  CH3NH3+)
NH3
c. weak acid/strong base
 e.g. HC2H3O2 + NaOH  H2O + C2H3O2- (net : HC2H3O2 + OH-  H2O +
C2H3O2-)
d. weak acids and weak bases
 e.g. NH3 + HF  NH4+ + F- (net)
3. reactions with acids :
a. carbonates or bicarbonates and acids form a salt, water and CO2
 e.g. 2HCl + Na2CO3  2 NaCl + H2O + CO2 (net : H+ + CO32-  H2O + CO2)
b. sulfites and acids form a salt, water and SO2
 e.g. 2 HCl + Na2SO3  2 NaCl + H2O + SO2 (net : H+ + SO32-  H2O + SO2)
c. metallic sulfides and acids form H2S and a salt
 e.g. 2 HCl(aq) + Na2S(aq)  2 NaCl(aq) + H2S(g) (net : H+ + S2-  H2S )
d. metallic hydrides and acids form H2 and a salt
 e.g. HCl(aq) + LiH(aq)  LiCl(aq) + H2(g) (net : H+ + H-  H2)
4. strong acids with salts of weak acids (salts containing anions such as : OCl-, ClO2-, F-, NO2-, CN-,
C2H3O2-)
a. metallic acetates and acids form acetic acid and a salt
 e.g. HCl(aq) + NaC2H3O2(aq)  NaCl(aq) + HC2H3O2(aq) (net : H+ + C2H3O2- 
HC2H3O2)
b. metallic nitrites and acids form nitrous acid and a salt
 e.g. HCl(aq) + NaNO2(aq)  HNO2(aq) + NaCl(aq) (net : H+ + NO2-  HNO2)
5. reactions with bases :
a. ammonium salts and soluble bases yield ammonia, water and a salt
 e.g. NH4Cl + LiOH  NH3 + H2O + LiCl (net : NH4+ + OH-  NH3 + H2O)
6. Amides with water
 e.g. sodium amide and water produce sodium hydroxide and ammonia
 Net : NaNH2 + H2O  Na+ + OH- + NH3
C. Combination
1. metal and nonmetal form a binary ionic compound
 e.g. 2 Na + F2  2 NaF
2. two nonmetals form a binary covalent compound
 e.g. S + F2  SF2
3. metal or nonmetal combines with oxygen to form binary ionic or covalent compound
 e.g. 2 Mg + O2  2 MgO
4. nonmetallic element combines with a binary covalent compound
 e.g. oxygen and nonmetallic oxide (sulfur dioxide + oxygen  sulfur trioxide)
 e.g. nonmetallic halide and additional halogen ( chlorine trifluoride and fluorine  chlorine
tetrafluoride)
5. Combination of two compounds
a. metallic oxide and nonmetallic oxide form an ionic compound with a polyatomic ion
 e.g. Na2O + CO2  Na2CO3
b. metal oxides react with water to form hydroxides
 e.g. CaO + H2O  Ca(OH)2
c. nonmetal oxides react with water to form acids
 e.g. SO2 + H2O  H2SO3 (net : SO2 + H2O  H+ + HSO3-)
d. hydrates result when anhydrous compounds react with water to form hydrates
 e.g. CuSO4 + 5 H2O  CuSO4·5H2O
AP Chemistry
Mr. Ferwerda, Tecumseh HS
06/22/17
e. Lewis acid (e- pr acceptor) and Lewis base (e- pr. donor)
 e.g. boron trifluoride (e- deficient) and ammonia (lone pair on N) : BF3 + NH3  BF3NH3
D. Decomposition
1. thermal decomposition
a. hydrogencarbonates (bicarbonates) yield carbonates, water and carbon dioxide (relatively low
temps)
 e.g. NaHCO3  Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
b. carbonates and hydrogen carbonates yield oxides and carbon dioxide (high temp.)
 e.g. CaCO3  CaO + CO2
c. ammonium carbonate decomposes into ammonia, water and carbon dioxide
d. sulfites yield oxides and sulfur dioxide
 e.g. FeSO3  FeO + SO2
e. oxides, chlorates and perchlorates yield oxygen
 e.g. 2HgO  Hg + O2
 e.g. 2KClO3  2KCl + 3O2
 e.g. NaClO4  NaCl + 2O2
f. hydroxides, hydrates and some oxyacids release water
 e.g. Ca(OH)2  CaO + H2O
 e.g. CuSO4-5H2O  CuSO4 + 5 H2O
 e.g. H2SO3  H2O + SO2
2. Electrolysis - use of electricity to decompose compounds
 e.g. 2 NaCl  2 Na + Cl2
E. Combustion of hydrocarbons produces water and carbon dioxide
 e.g. 2 C6H14 + 19 O2  14 H2O + 12 CO2
F. Redox reactions - involve a transfer of electrons (something is oxidized and something else is reduced)
and a change of oxidation state. Single replacement and combustion reactions are always redox reactions.
Combination and decomposition reactions are sometimes redox reactions. If a reaction takes place in an
acidic or basic solution it is most likely a redox reaction. Reactions involving elements in their natural
states (e.g. Al, Fe, Cl2, O2, etc.) are redox reactions.
1. Simple redox reactions :
a. Hydrogen displacement
 e.g. Ca(s) + H2O  Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
b. Metal displacement
 e.g. Zn(s) + CuCl2(aq)  ZnCl2(aq) + Cu(s) (Net : Zn + Cu2+  Zn2+ + Cu)
c. Halogen displacement
 e.g. Cl2(g) + MgBr2(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + Br2(l) (Net : Cl2 + Br-  Cl- + Br2)
d. Combustion reactions (see above)
e. Combination and decomposition reactions (see above)
2. Reactions involving transition metals with multiple oxidation states :
• e.g. tin(II) ion with Fe(III) ion
(net : Sn2+ + Fe3+  Sn4+
3. Free halogens in dilute basic solutions form hypohalite ions
+ Fe2+)
• e.g. Cl2(g) + KOH(aq)  KClO(aq) +
KCl(aq) + H2O(l) (Net : Cl2 + OH-  ClO- + Cl- + H2O)
4. Redox reactions involving oxyanions such as Cr2O72 e.g. 14H+(aq) + Cr2O72-(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq)  2Cr3+(aq) + 7 H2O(l) + 6Fe3+
The only way to be able to predict these types of reactions is to become with familiar (i.e.
memorize) common oxidizing and reducing agents. See table below.
Common Reducing Agents
Halide ions
Free metals
Sulfite ions or SO2
Products formed
Free halogen
Metal ions
Sulfate ions
AP Chemistry
Mr. Ferwerda, Tecumseh HS
06/22/17
Nitrite ion
Nitrate ion
Free halogens (dilute basic solution)
Hypohalite ions
Free halogens (concentrated basic solution) Halate ions
Metallous ions (lower oxidation number)
Metallic ions (higher oxidation number)
Common Oxidizing Agents
MnO4- (acidic solution)
MnO2 (acidic solution)
MnO4- (neutral or basic)
Cr2O72- (acidic solution)
HNO3 (concentrated)
HNO3 (dilute)
H2SO4 (hot, concentrated)
Metallic ions (high oxidation number)
Free halogens
Na2O2
HClO4
C2O42H2O2
Products formed
Mn2+
Mn2+
MnO2(s)
Cr3+
NO2(g)
NO(g)
SO2(g)
Metallous ions (lower oxidation number)
Halide ions
NaOH
ClCO2(g)
O2(g)
G. Organic reactions
1. Oxidation (combustion reactions) (See E. above)
2. Substitution reactions by halogens
• e.g. butane and bromine : C4H10 + Br2  C4H9Br + HBr
3. Esterification - organic acid and alcohol forms an ester and water
• e.g. acetic acid and ethanol : CH3COOH + C2H5OH  CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
4. Addition : A C=C bond is broken and atoms are attached to the carbon atoms
•
•
e.g. butene and hydrogen gas form butane : C4H8 + H2  C4H10
e.g. hexene and bromine : C6H12 + Br2  C6H12Br2
H. Complexation reactions (coordination chemistry) : (look for terms "excess" or "concentrated")
These reactions usually involve transition metal ions bonding to ligands (Lewis bases - electron
pair donors) to form complex ions. E.g. Cr(H2O)63+, where the transition metal ion is the Cr3+ ions
and the 6 water molecules are the ligands. They are bonded by a coordinate covalent bond which
is formed by the sharing of the electron pairs donated by the water molecules.
Common ligands and their names :
Ligand
H2O
NH3
ClFBrICNOHNO3NO2O2SO42CH3NH2
(CH3)2NH
NO
Name
aquo
ammine
chloro
fluoro
bromo
iodo
cyano
hydroxo
nitrato
nitro
oxo
sulfatomethylamine
dimethylamine
nitrosyl
AP Chemistry
Mr. Ferwerda, Tecumseh HS
CO
06/22/17
carbonyl
Examples of cations :
[Cr(H2O)6]3+ - hexaaquochromium(III)
[Cu(NH3)4]2+ - tetraamminecopper
[Ag(NH3)2]+ - diamminesilver
[Cr(NH3)5(H2O) ]3+ - pentammineaquochromium(III)
Examples of anions :
[Cr(H2O)2Cl4]- - diaquotetrachlorochromate(III)*
[GaCl3(OH)]- - trichlorohydroxogallate(III)
[Al(OH)4]- tetrahydroxoaluminate
Examples of compounds :
Na[Al(OH)4] sodium tetrahydroxoaluminate
*ligands are arranged alphabetically (aquo before chloro)
- ligands are named before the metal ion
The number of ligands attached to a central metal ion is called the coordination number. e.g.
Cr(H2O)63+ has a coordination number of 6. Two, four and six are the most common coordination
numbers. The coordination number is often twice the oxidation number of the metallic ion.
Ligands are joined one at a time and have a formation constant for each reaction that joins a single
ligand. This means that it would take six reactions to form Cr(H2O)63+, each successive reaction
joining another water molecule. Likewise, each step would have its own formation constant.
 Al2O3 + OH-  [Al(OH)4] NH3 + Zn2+  [Zn(NH3)4]2+
 Fe2+ + SCN-  [FeSCN] 2+
Keys to success in equation writing on the AP test :
1.
2.
3.
4.
know ion formulas and charges
know solubility rules
know common oxidizing agents
Identify reaction type
- remember to add H+ and water to balance redox reactions (watch for term "acidified" indicates redox rxn)
- free elements indicate redox reactions
5. Remember amphoteric substances Zn2+ and Al3+ form hydroxides that dissolve in both acids and
bases.
6. Leave out spectator ions
AP Test instructions : AP Test instructions : " For each of the following three reactions. Write a balanced
equation for thte reaction in part (i) and answer the question about the reaction in part (ii). In part (i),
coefficients should be in terms of lowest whole numbers. Assume that solutions are aqueous unless otherwise
indicated. Represent substances in solution as ions if the substances are extensively ionized. Omit formulas for
any ions or molecules that are unchanged by the reaction. You may use the empty space at the bottom of the
next page for scratch work, but only equations that are written in the answer boxes provided will be scored"
The following website is designed to help you learn the various types of reactions. I highly recommend it. It is
challenging and you may be learning by "trial and error" (especially with redox reactions - an emphasis of AP
equations) at first, but you will catch on.
http://dwb.unl.edu/Chemistry/Desc/Start2.html (login with something like first@timer)