Why do scientist balance equations? It is a simple reason to be honest, so we follow the Law Of Conservation which is a law that states that matter cannot be created nor destroyed. Also, scientists like things to be equal, so, more often than not, balancing is done to make sure that the products (the result) is equal to the reactants (..the ones REACTing). Another thing we should know is that their are five different types of reactions. Those being synthesis, decomposition, combustion, single replacement, and double replacement. I'm simply here to teach you how to identify them as well as tell you what they are, consider me your chemistry teacher for now (albeit i'm not really a good one).
Synthesis is the one most people tend to recognize, simply because it is like basic math, it's just like addition, but isn't quite close to it. It's when two different elements come together to form a compound. For example, "A+B=AB". See? Simple. Not much more can be said about synthesis other than that it has to to be the easiest of the five to identify when given chemical equations. Also, synthesis happens to be a redox reaction, which stands for "oxidation-reduction" in which it either gains or loses electrons. Basically, what that means is that it's oxidation state is changed, similar to rusting metal, it changes does it not? You don't really have to know that, but it's best just to talk about it a bit.
Next up is decomposition, and just like it's name suggests, based off what you learn in biology, decomposition is when something breaks down. Consider this to be the exact opposite of synthesis, instead of two elements come together, it's when a compound breaks down to it's root elements. "AB=A+B". While it is extremely simple, sometimes it can be tricky, but always remember this, decomposition is when ONE compound breaks down. If it has two or more reactants, it cannot be decomposition.
Single replacement is a bit tougher, but, it's still a bit easy. Single replacement is when one ion is exchanged with another in the reactants. Similar to this "AB+C=AC+B". As you can see, "B" was switched out with "C" in the final result. Also, it is a redox reaction.
Now we come to double replacements. They are exactly like single replacement, except, well, doubled! Unlike a single replacement in which only one ion is exchanged, in a double replacement, both are. It looks similar to this "AB+CD=AC+BD". What happens is that the positive and the negative ions switch sides in the equation and bond together. So if "B" and "C" were negatively charged, they switched places, same thing with "A" and "D" being positively charged. Double replacements can also be a redox reaction, not always, but they can be one.
Last but not least, we have combustion. That is when a reaction with oxygen causes heat to be given off, similar to being exothermic. The product is usually CO2 or H2O and you see it in various combustible things such as TNT or bombs.
That's all we have folks! Your brief, lesson on chemical reactions. Hope you understood what I was saying and come back tomorrow!
Synthesis is the one most people tend to recognize, simply because it is like basic math, it's just like addition, but isn't quite close to it. It's when two different elements come together to form a compound. For example, "A+B=AB". See? Simple. Not much more can be said about synthesis other than that it has to to be the easiest of the five to identify when given chemical equations. Also, synthesis happens to be a redox reaction, which stands for "oxidation-reduction" in which it either gains or loses electrons. Basically, what that means is that it's oxidation state is changed, similar to rusting metal, it changes does it not? You don't really have to know that, but it's best just to talk about it a bit.
Next up is decomposition, and just like it's name suggests, based off what you learn in biology, decomposition is when something breaks down. Consider this to be the exact opposite of synthesis, instead of two elements come together, it's when a compound breaks down to it's root elements. "AB=A+B". While it is extremely simple, sometimes it can be tricky, but always remember this, decomposition is when ONE compound breaks down. If it has two or more reactants, it cannot be decomposition.
Single replacement is a bit tougher, but, it's still a bit easy. Single replacement is when one ion is exchanged with another in the reactants. Similar to this "AB+C=AC+B". As you can see, "B" was switched out with "C" in the final result. Also, it is a redox reaction.
Now we come to double replacements. They are exactly like single replacement, except, well, doubled! Unlike a single replacement in which only one ion is exchanged, in a double replacement, both are. It looks similar to this "AB+CD=AC+BD". What happens is that the positive and the negative ions switch sides in the equation and bond together. So if "B" and "C" were negatively charged, they switched places, same thing with "A" and "D" being positively charged. Double replacements can also be a redox reaction, not always, but they can be one.
Last but not least, we have combustion. That is when a reaction with oxygen causes heat to be given off, similar to being exothermic. The product is usually CO2 or H2O and you see it in various combustible things such as TNT or bombs.
That's all we have folks! Your brief, lesson on chemical reactions. Hope you understood what I was saying and come back tomorrow!
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