Types of reactions with examples.

Examples of Balancing Chemical Equations

Example 1: Combination Reaction

Consider the reaction between iron ($\text{Fe}$) and oxygen ($\text{O}_2$) to produce iron(III) oxide ($\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$). The unbalanced equation is:

$\text{Fe} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$

To balance it, we add coefficients:

$4\text{Fe} + 3\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3$

Example 2: Decomposition Reaction

Consider the decomposition of water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$) into hydrogen ($\text{H}_2$) and oxygen ($\text{O}_2$). The unbalanced equation is:

$\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2$

To balance it, we add coefficients:

$2\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{H}_2 + \text{O}_2$

Example 3: Single Replacement Reaction

Consider the reaction between copper(II) sulfate ($\text{CuSO}_4$) and iron ($\text{Fe}$) to produce iron(II) sulfate ($\text{FeSO}_4$) and copper ($\text{Cu}$). The unbalanced equation is:

$\text{CuSO}_4 + \text{Fe} \rightarrow \text{FeSO}_4 + \text{Cu}$

This equation is already balanced.

Example 4: Double Replacement Reaction

Consider the reaction between silver nitrate ($\text{AgNO}_3$) and sodium chloride ($\text{NaCl}$) to produce silver chloride ($\text{AgCl}$) and sodium nitrate ($\text{NaNO}_3$). The unbalanced equation is:

$\text{AgNO}_3 + \text{NaCl} \rightarrow \text{AgCl} + \text{NaNO}_3$

This equation is already balanced.