Redox reactions Part 2

The third and fourth chemical reactions are Single replacement and Combustion reactions. Single replacement reactions are when an external metal and a metal anion switch places to form a compound and a single metal as products. For example, A+BC -> AC+B. The driving force, because it is a redox reaction, is the transfer of electrons. A Combustion reaction is when a compound/element reacts with oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide. For example, (compound) + O2 -> H2O + CO2. If the combustion reaction is using a hydrocarbon (compound with hydrogen carbon and sometimes oxygen), then to balance it you should use the CHO method. Which consists of starting by balancing Carbon then Hydrogen and then Oxygen.

Redox Reactions

Decomposition and synthesis reactions. The Driving force of a redox reaction is the transfer of electrons. Two different ways the electrons can be transferred are decomposition and synthesis reactions. Decomposition is when a single compound is split apart in to separate products. The second way is a synthesis reaction. Opposite from a decomposition, a synthesis reaction is when two compounds/atoms form together to make a single compounded product. Both of these are redox reactions.

Chemical reactions lab

Today we did a lab to test how certain elements would react with certain liquids. The elements were Lead, copper, calcium, magnesium, Zinc, and Tin. We had to place one of each of the metals into a well plate and then put a couple drops of water on each metal. We also did this with Hydrochloric acid, copper sulfate, and silver nitrate. Each liquid was put onto a fresh piece of metal that had not been reacted with. The most reacted liquid was Silver Nitrate which reacted with all but one metal. The results were quite interesting in that multiple different compounds of varying color formed.

The Hydrate Lab

The previous lab we were supposed to do was the hydrate lab. The lab was quite simple, take the saturated hydrate, de-saturate it and then figure out the chemical formula for the original compound. The lab worked well for everyone who did it, but about half of the class still failed the prelab quiz. The quiz was comprised of two parts: a and b. A was answering the question of what does LD50 mean and B was finding x in a hydrate equation. I personally messed up on the hydrate equation while my partner did the LD50 part. It has been assumed that the larges part of the mistakes is on the math portion. The groups that did get it done did so flawlessly and got to use the Bunsen burners.

Chemical composition

Chemical composition is the lesson to find out how to get products from equations. Many of the different types of chemicals cannot react with each other so it is important to know if something can or cannot react

the chloride lab

Conglagerations to everyone in the class for making it into the lab today. This lab was making a chloride by putting zinc and HCl in a beaker and heating them up. This heating drove off the hydrogen and left the zinc and chlorine to bond. We as the "Chemists" had to figure out the formula of the compound after the reaction. Using math we recently learned in class. The math is used when you have the weight of a known element or compound and then there is a reaction. Then one must find what the resulting compound/elements formula is. The lab itself was pretty simple and quite easy to perform. I had a fun time doing it but I wish the end result could be time travel next time.

Recent notes

I like the amount of math that is now involved in our class. Its something i can work with a lot better than a bunch of memorized facts. Also the math is just addition and some simple multiplication and division. The road map is useful in that it makes the pathways clearer when doing the math. The main problem i am going to have with this section is the compound naming. Now i know how to study but it is not something that i really enjoy doing. This section also consists of no labs which will make it that much easier to get more stuff done and focus on the blog and taking notes.