User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions

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::Zn + 2HCl &rarr; ZnCl<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>
::Zn + 2HCl &rarr; ZnCl<sub>2</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>


* [[copper]] +[[silver nitrate]] &rarr; silver + copper nitrate
* [[copper]] + [[silver nitrate]] &rarr; silver + copper nitrate
::Cu + 2AgNO<sub>3</sub> &rarr; 2Ag + Cu(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>
::Cu + 2AgNO<sub>3</sub> &rarr; 2Ag + Cu(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>


'''''Double replacement reaction:'''''  (also referred to as '''''metathesis''''' or '''''exchange''''' reaction)  
'''''Metathesis reaction:'''''  (also referred to as '''''exchange''''' or '''''double displacement''''' or '''''double replacement''''' reaction)  
This is a reaction in which the chemical elements from two compounds displace each other to form new, different compounds. It may also be defined as a reaction in which two compounds exchange bonds or ions in order to form new, different compounds. Examples include:


* [[sodium sulfate]] + [[barium chloride]] &rarr; barium chloride + barium sulfate
::Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> + BaCl<sub>2</sub> &rarr; BaSO<sub>4</sub> + 2NaCl


'''''Acid-base reaction:''''' (also referred to as '''''neutralization''''')
'''''Precipitation reaction:''''' (also referred to as '''''aqueous metathesis''''')
* [[Calcium chloride]] + [[silver nitrate]] &rarr; calcium nitrate +[[silver chloride]] 
::CaCl<sub>2</sub> (aq) + 2 AgNO<sub>3</sub> (aq) --> Ca(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> (aq) + 2 AgCl (s)





Revision as of 17:41, 8 October 2010

Typical of inorganic chemical reactions

There is no universally accepted list of the typical, important inorganic reactions. Although there are numerous available sources (books, journal and Internet websites) that include such lists, they all differ to some extent from each other. The inorganic reaction types listed and explained below were drawn from many of the available sources:[1][2][3][4][5]

Synthesis reaction: (also referred to as combination or composition reaction)

This is a reaction in which two or more reactants combine to form a single product, where each reactant is a chemical element or compound and the reaction product consist of the two reactants. Examples include:

2Na + Cl 2 → 2NaCl
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3
2H2 + S → H2S

Decomposition reaction: (may be thermal, electrolytic or catalytic decomposition reaction)

This is a reaction in which a chemical compound is separated into elements or simpler compounds. It is often defined as the exact opposite of a synthesis reaction. Examples include:

2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

Single displacement reaction: (also referred to as substitution or single replacement reaction)

This is a reaction characterized by one element being displaced from a compound by another element. Examples include:

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
Cu + 2AgNO3 → 2Ag + Cu(NO3)2

Metathesis reaction: (also referred to as exchange or double displacement or double replacement reaction) This is a reaction in which the chemical elements from two compounds displace each other to form new, different compounds. It may also be defined as a reaction in which two compounds exchange bonds or ions in order to form new, different compounds. Examples include:

Na2SO4 + BaCl2 → BaSO4 + 2NaCl

Precipitation reaction: (also referred to as aqueous metathesis)

CaCl2 (aq) + 2 AgNO3 (aq) --> Ca(NO3)2 (aq) + 2 AgCl (s)


Redox reaction: (also referred to as oxidation-reduction reaction)


Precipitation reaction: (also referred to as aqueous metathesis reaction)


  1. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Cotton
  2. P.A. Cox (2004). Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Edition. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-85996-289-0. 
  3. Types of Equations From the website of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virgina Tech). A list of many similar, excellent chemistry articles are available here.
  4. Types of Inorganic Chemical Reactions By Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine on the website of About.com: Chemistry.
  5. Types of Chemical Reactions By Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine on the website of About.com: Chemistry.