Reaction Types

Complete Combustion Oxygen combines with a hydrocarbon to form water and carbon dioxide and produces heat. General form: C x H x + O 2  CO 2 + H 2 O Example: C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2  CO 2 + H 2 O

Incomplete Combustion Oxygen combines with a hydrocarbon to form water and carbon monoxide and produces heat. General form: C x H x + O 2  CO + H 2 O Example: C 8 H 18 + O 2  CO + H 2 O

Synthesis/Combination Two or more simple compounds combine to form a more complicated one. General form: A + B  AB Example Ca + C + O 2  CaCO 3

Decomposition A complex molecule breaks down to make simpler ones (opposite of a synthesis reaction). General form: AB  A + B Example: 2H 2 O  2H 2 + O 2

Single Displacement One element trades places with another element in a compound. General form: A + BC  AC + B Example: Zn + 2HCl  ZnCl 2 + H 2

Double Displacement The anions and cations of two compounds swap, making two new compounds. Ex: Pb(NO 3 ) 2 + 2KI  PbI 2 + 2KNO 3 General form: AB + CD  AD + CB