Types of Reactions Experiment: Chemical Reaction, Equations & Examples

Matter exists in a solid, liquid, and gaseous state and goes through different types of changes, which can be physical, chemical, or nuclear changes. Physical changes, such as freezing and evaporation, have no effect on the composition of a substance as a result of these changes. New compounds are produced as a result of chemical changes or reactions. The chemicals are formed when the existing bonds break and form new bonds.

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Types of Chemical Reaction

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Reactivity of the chemicals determines the sort of chemical reaction experiments. There are mainly four types of reactions, which are:

1. Combination Reaction
2. Decomposition Reaction
3. Combustion Reaction
4. Displacement Reaction

Also read: Chemical Reactions Formula

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Combination Reaction

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In a combination reaction, two or more molecules react together to produce a single new compound. The combination reaction is also known as a synthesis reaction. The following is an example of a synthesis reaction experiment:

We have a molecule "X" and another molecule "Y". When X and Y react together in a suitable environment, they will form a new compound, "XY."

X+Y→XY 

• Experiment for Combination Reaction 

Required Materials: Quick lime (Calcium oxide), Distilled water, Borosil beaker, Test tube, Glass rod, Dropper, and Litmus paper strips

Procedure: 

• Step 1: Using distilled water, wash and dry a borosil beaker.
• Step 2: Slowly pour water over a small amount of calcium oxide (quick lime). Use a clean glass rod to stir the quick lime and water mixture.
• Step 3: From the outside, gently touch the beaker. Carefully notice the changes.
• Step 4: Take a few drops of the mixture from the beaker and place them on the red and blue litmus paper strips with the help of a dropper.

Step 5: Wait for a while and carefully observe the change.

Observation:

1. When we add water to the beaker containing quick lime, a hissing sound is heard during the reaction. The temperature rises as heat is released during the reaction, making the solution hot.
2. On dropping a few drops of mixture on the red litmus paper strip, it changes the colour of the paper to blue, whilst drops on the blue litmus paper have no effect.

We may deduce from the foregoing experiment that the process that occurs when calcium oxide, also known as Quicklime and water combine to generate one single product, slaked lime (Ca(OH)2), is known as a combination reaction and an exothermic reaction.

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Decomposition Reaction

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In the decomposition reaction, the complex molecules are broken down into smaller and simpler compounds. A source of energy is necessary for this reaction in order to disrupt the complex compound's existing bonds. The decomposition reaction requires heat, light, or any form of energy to break and form new compounds. The following is an example of a decomposition reaction experiment:

We have a complex compound named "XY" and when it is provided to the compound, It breaks down into simpler compounds, "X" and "Y".

XY→X+Y 

• Experiment for Decomposition Reaction 

Required Materials: Ferrous sulphate crystals, Litmus paper strips , Test tube holder, Bunsen burner , Boiling tube , Safety glass

Procedure: 

• Step 1: Take a boiling tube. Using distilled water, clean and dry them.
• Step 2: Fill the tube with 2 grams of ferrous sulphate crystals. Observe the crystals' color. 
• Step 3: To hold the boiling tube, use a test tube holder. On the bunsen burner, heat the boiling tube as illustrated in the diagram.
• Step 4: Note the colour of the residue that has formed, as well as the odour of the gases that have been released.
• Step 5: Near the tube's neck, tiny colourless water droplets can be seen. Turn it gently over and smell for any gas that has escaped.
• Step 6: Take blue and red litmus paper, wet them with water. Hold the litmus paper strips near the boiling tube's mouth and note down the change in the litmus paper.

Observation:

1. Over time, ferrous sulphate crystals turn green to white to brown. The gas emitted has a sulphur-like odour.
2. When a blue litmus paper strip comes into contact with gas, it becomes red.

From the above experiment, we can conclude that the reaction that occurs when ferrous sulphate crystals are heated is a decomposition reaction, in which Fe2O3, SO2, and SO3 are produced. This breakdown reaction is also known as a thermal decomposition reaction because it is carried out by heating.

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Displacement Reaction

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In the displacement reaction, an element with higher reactivity removes the less reactive element from its compound and forms its own compound. The more reactive metal or element can replace or displace the less reactive metal or element. 

The following is an example of a displacement reaction experiment:

We have an element 'Z' and a compound 'XY'. The element "Z" is more reactive than "X". Hence, "Z" replaces or displaces "X" from the compound and forms its own compound with "Y."

Z+XY→ZY+X

The displacement reaction can be classified into two types:

• Single displacement reaction
• Double displacement reaction

1. Single Displacement Reaction

In the single displacement reaction, one reactant element replaces a similar sort of reactant element in a different reactant compound. The reactivity of the components is important in this type of reaction. Elements with a high degree of reactivity take the place of elements with a low degree of reactivity. The following is an example of a single displacement reaction experiment:

Z+XY→ZY+X

• Experiment for Single Displacement Reaction 

Required Materials: Copper sulphate solution, Sandpaper, Distilled water, Test tube stand, Measuring cylinder , Two test tubes , Two iron nails , Beaker , Laboratory stand with clamp , Thread

Procedure: 

• Step 1: Take two test tubes. Using distilled water, clean and dry them.
• Step 2: Name the test tubes "P" and "Q."
• Step 3: Pour 20mL of distilled water into the test tube and mix copper sulphate crystals in P.Transfer 10 mL of solution from P to Q.
• Step 4: Take two iron nails and sand them clean with sandpaper.
• Step 5: Soak one iron nail in CuSO4 for 15 minutes in test tube P, then dip a second iron nail in CuSO4 for 15 minutes in test tube Q.
• Step 6: Examine the intensity of CuSO4's blue color before as well as the experiment in test tubes P and Q.

Observation:

1. The colour of copper sulphate solution changes from blue to green.
2. The iron nail, which is silver-grey in color, gets a reddish-brown coating.

We can deduce from the above experiment that when iron nails were dipped in copper sulphate solution for 15 minutes, the color of the solution changed to green, and brownish-red copper metal was deposited on the nail. As a result, we have a displacement response.

Fe(s)+CuSO4(aq) FeSO4(aq)+CuSO4(aq) FeSO4(aq)+CuSO4(aq) FeSO4(aq)+CuSO4 (s)

2. Double Displacement Reaction

In the double displacement reaction, the positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anion) exchange positions to generate new compounds. The double displacement reaction generally takes place in ionic compounds.

The following is an example of a single displacement reaction experiment:

AZ+XY→ZY+XA

• Experiment for Double Displacement Reaction 

Required Materials: Sodium sulphate solution, Barium chloride solution, Test tube stand, Two test tubes , Measuring cylinder, Conical flask , Glass rod

Procedure: 

• Step 1: Take two test tubes. Using distilled water, clean and dry them.
• Step 2: Name the test tubes as "P" and "Q."
• Step 3: In the test tube P, pour 5mL of barium chloride and notice the colour. 
• Step 4: Fill the test tube Q with 5mL sodium sulphate and examine the colour.
• Step 5: Fill a conical flask halfway with the solutions from both test tubes. Stir the mixture added to the conical flask with a glass rod.
• Step 6: Allow it to rest for a while. Observe the colour of the solution as it changes.

Observation:

1. The colour of the test tubes P and Q becomes colorless.
2. The mixture of solutions in the conical flask forms a white precipitate.

We can conclude from the experiment that the reaction happens when barium chloride and sodium sulphate solutions were mixed and their ions were exchanged, resulting in a white precipitate product. A twofold displacement reaction is a name for this type of reaction.

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Combustion Reaction

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A combustion reaction occurs when reactants combine with oxygen and produce energy or heat in the atmosphere. The combustion reaction requires oxygen to occur. The combustion reaction can be classified into two types:

• Incomplete Combustion Reaction
• Complete COmbustion Reaction

When organic chemicals are completely burned, carbon dioxide, gaseous water molecules, and energy are produced, and this is known as complete combustion reaction. The combustion reaction is an exothermic reaction because it gives out heat. 

Things to Remember

• The reactivity of the chemicals determines the sort of chemical reaction experiments. There are mainly four types of reactions:
• In the combination reaction, two or more molecules react together to produce a single new compound. The combination reaction is also known as a synthesis reaction. 
• In the decomposition reaction, the complex molecules are broken down into smaller and simpler compounds and require a source of energy to disrupt the complex compound's existing bonds. 
• A Combustion Reaction: A combustion reaction occurs when reactants combine with oxygen and produce energy or heat in the atmosphere.
• In the displacement reaction, an element with higher reactivity removes the less reactive element from its compound and forms its own compound. The more reactive metal or element can replace or displace the less reactive metal or element. 
• In the single displacement reaction, a more reactive element replaces a similar sort of reactant element in a different reactant compound with a low degree of reactivity.
• In the double displacement reaction, the positive ions (cations) and negative ions (anion) exchange positions to generate new compounds. 

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