Types of Chemical Reaction Explained With Examples

Types of Chemical Reaction – Chemistry is all about bonds and reactions. A chemical reaction is a process in which chemical changes take place between the reactants and form products. The motion of electrons, breaking of bonds, and the formation of blonds leads to the product as well as by-product formation.

If you are a chemist, you have to encounter various chemical reactions. In chemical industries, chemical reactions are being performed in reactors at a large scale to produce products. You can learn about reactor type in an article i.e. types of chemical reactors.

There are several types of chemical reactions but there are 6 primary types of reaction and they are combination, decomposition, single displacement, second displacement, and precipitation. Let us understand these different types of chemical reactions along with examples.

You can see the “N” number of reactions, you use is prepare is a product and a result of chemical reactions, plastic, glass, bricks, paper, and many more. Hence chemical reactions are important to produce substance that is useful for us. Prior to getting into the chemical reaction types, let us understand what is a chemical reaction and chemical reaction definition in brief.

What is chemical Reaction?

A chemical reaction is a process in which two or more elements allow to interact with each other to form a product. In a chemical reaction. The element used in the chemical reaction is known as reactants. During the chemical reaction, breaking and formation of chemical bond takes place and result in information of the product.

A chemical reaction occurs at a definite rate known as the rate of reaction which depends on the factors like the concentration of reactants, pressure and temperature. During a chemical reaction, the original properties of the reactant change, and hence the properties of the product are different from the reactant.

This was the introduction to what is a chemical reaction, now let us learn the types of chemical reactions with examples and explanations.

Types of Chemical Reaction

There are number of chemical reactions or we can say countless but for simplicity, we can categorize in primarily 6 types of chemical reaction. A reaction type can fall into multiple types as well. Let us move forward and see chemical reaction types.

1. Combination Reaction

The combination type of chemical reaction is also known as synthesis reaction in which two-component reacts with each other and result in a new product.

A+B → C

This is the simplest form of reaction in which A and B are the reactants that is allowed to react with each other and they form C as a product.

Example 1 – Combination reaction

S + O2 → SO2

This is an example of a combination reaction in which S i.e sulfur is allowed to react with oxygen and results in Sulphur dioxide

Example 2 – Combination chemical reaction

2Na(s)+Cl2(g)→2NaCl(s)

In the above reaction, sodium is being reacted with chlorine and we get sodium chloride as a product.

2. Decomposition Reaction

A decomposition reaction is a type of reaction in which a compound gets broken down into two or multiple simple substances/elements. It can also be defined as the reaction that splits the component into simpler forms of substance but under certain conditions. This can be considered as a reverse reaction of a combination reaction. There are various types of decomposition reactions such as Thermal decomposition reaction, Electrolytic decomposition reaction, photolytic decomposition, etc.

AB→ A+B

In the above reaction, AB is a product that gets breakdown into two-component i.e. A and B under certain conditions.

Decomposition reaction example

CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

In this reaction, calcium carbonate is decomposed and forms calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide in gaseous form.

3. Displacement Reaction / Single Displacement Reaction

In the Displacement reaction, One more reactive element will replace another less reactive element in a compound. In this reaction, elements that form anion can only displace anions, and elements that form cation can only displace cation.

AB + C → AC+B

In the above reaction, AB is the substance that is being reacted with the C substance. During this reaction, C is more reactive than B and hence B is replaced with C and forms an AC product.

4. Double Displacement Reaction

In a double displacement reaction, reactants from each compound form anion and cation and swap the position of the anion with anion and cation with cation between two different compounds and form completely different products.

A⁺B^–+C⁺D^– → A⁺C^–+B⁺D^–

In the above reaction, AB and CD are the reactants that form anion and cation and switch position

           BaCl₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄ + 2NaCl

In the above chemical reaction, BaCl₂ will form Ba+2 cations and Cl- as an anion, and in Na2SO4 in, Na will lose electrons and form cations i.e. Na+while SO2-4 will gain an elector and form anion. These anions get to swap with anion and from

5. Combustion Reaction

A combustion reaction is a type of reaction in which a substance usually a hydrocarbon, undergoes an oxidation reaction. It basically reacts with oxygen gas and releases energy in the form of heat or light and along with other substances. There are different types of combustion reactions. We had covered Stages of fire in detail.

C_xH_y+ O₂ → + OCO + H₂O Heat (energy)

A combustion reaction is widely used in our day-to-day life i.e for the preparation of food. LPG gas that we get in cylinders of pipe gas when get sparks, it releases heat and this combustion is used to prepare food.

C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + energy

6. Precipitation Reaction

In a precipitation reaction, two aqueous solutions containing salts are combined, insoluble salt is formed. This insoluble salt is known as a precipitate.  These reactions are mostly double displacement reactions in which solid insoluble salt, also known as a precipitate is formed.

AB + CD → AD_(Insoluble) + BC

Example of a precipitation reaction

AgNO₃(aq) + K₂Cr₂O₇(aq) → Ag₂Cr₂O₇(s) + KNO₃(aq)

In the above reaction, AgNO₃(aq) and K₂Cr₂O₇(aq) are in aqueous form when mixed with each other, Ag₂Cr₂O₇, as an insoluble salt is formed as a precipitate and KNO₃ is in an aqueous state.

Chemical Reaction Examples

FAQ – Chemical Reaction Types

Wrapping Up

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