1. CHEMISTRY – Types of Reactions Lab
Introduction:
We experience many chemical reactions all around us daily: car engine burning up
gasoline, leaves changing color, and cooking are a few examples. A chemical reaction
occurs when atoms recombine in different ways to produce a new substance. Evidence
that such a chemical reaction is taking place include
1) Change in color 4) Evolution of a gas
2) Formation of a precipitate 5) Evolution or absorption of
(solid) heat and /or light
3) Formation of a liquid
In order to make sense of the thousands of chemical reactions that occur within and
around us, scientists have classified chemical reactions into various categories. We will
study five of these types of reactions in this lab and write balanced chemical equations
to describe them. The five types of reactions include:
1) Combination/synthesis 4) Single replacement reactions
reactions 5) Double replacement
2) Decompositions reactions reactions
3) Combustion reactions
Purpose:
1) Recognize evidence of a chemical reaction
2) To observe/ classify different type of chemical reactions
3) To write and balance chemical equations for the observed reactions.
Procedure:
1. You will be assigned to a workstation at which you will begin the lab.
2. Follow the instructions at the workstation
3. When finished, clean the equipment you used and leave the workstation as you found
it.
4. Return to your desk and complete the data table for that workstation.
5. At your teacher's direction, move to the next workstation.
6. Repeat steps 2-5.
Data Table
Make a data table for each reaction (sample below). There are eight.
Reaction 1
Chemicals used
Observations
Type of reaction
Chemical Equation
Application:
For each of the following situations, use the information to determine the identity of the gas produced,
write a balanced equation, and classify each reaction.
1. When potassium bromate (KBrO3) is heated, it decomposes into potassium bromide and a gas
that supports the combustion of a glowing splint
2. Sodium metal reacts violently with water to produce sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and a gas that
pops in the presence of a burning splint.

2. [Reaction #1] CH4 and O2
1. Light the Bunsen burner. Observe the burning of the natural gas methane (CH4) and
determine which of the five evidence of a chemical reaction you see.
2. Record your observations.
[Reaction #2] Cu or Mg and O2
1. Light the Bunsen burner.
2. Hold a piece of copper/ magnesium with a pair of tongs.
3. Place the copper in the nonluminous flame of the Bunsen burner.
Record your observations. Caution: do not stare directly into the burning magnesium.
4. Catch the ashes on a paper or watch glass. Empty ashes into the labeled waste container.
[Reaction #3] Baking soda (NaHCO3)
1. Place a pea size amount of sodium hydrogen carbonate (baking soda) in a test tube.
2. Hold the test tube at a 45o angle using a test tube clamp and continuously move the test
tube over a small nonluminous flame.
3. The reaction is difficult to see but concentrate your observations near the top of the test
tube AND what happens to the baking soda.
4. Be sure to point the mouth of the test tube away from people.
5. Record your observation in the data table.
6. Dispose of the used baking soda into the labeled waste container.
7. Let the test tube cool in a test tube rack and leave it for the next group.
[Reaction # 4] HCl and Mg
1. Light the Bunsen burner
2. Add 5-8 ml of HCl to a test tube in a test tube rack.
3. Drop a small piece of Mg into the test tube.
4. Place your thumb over the mouth of the test tube do not remove until step 5. **(You
may have to hold your thumb over the end of the test tube for less than 1 minute or more than 2
minutes. You will feel pressure begin to push on your thumb. When that pressure builds up,
then you should go on to step 5).
5. When the reaction appears to have ended, light a wood splint and allow it to burn for
a few seconds until you notice that the end of the wood splint is glowing red.
6. Blow out the flame.
7. Quickly remove your thumb and hold the burning splint near the mouth of the test
tube to test the collected gas for flammability.*** (If sufficient hydrogen has been
generated, the wood splint will burst into flame).
8. Record your observations.
[Reaction # 5] H2O2
1. Light the Bunsen burner
2. Add 10 ml H2O2 to a test tube.
3. Add an extremely small scoop of KI to the test tube.(Note: KI is a catalyst)
4. Follow steps 4 -7 as in [Reaction # 4]
5. Record your observations.

3. [Reaction #6] HC2H3O2 and NaHCO3
1. Light the Bunsen burner.
2. Place a small scoop of NaHCO3 in a test tube.
3. Add 5 ml of HC2H3O2 to the test tube.
4. Follow steps 4-7 as in [Reaction # 4]
5. Place it in the mouth of the test tube.
6. Record your observations.
[Reaction #7] Zn and CuSO4 (aq)
1. Add small piece of zinc to a test tube.
2. Add approximately 5ml of CuSO4 to the test tube.
3. Observe the reaction for 2-3 minutes.
4. Record your observations.
[Reaction # 8] AgNO3 (aq) and CaCl2 (aq)
1. Combine 5-8 drops of each reactant in a test tube.
2. Observe the reaction for 2-3 minutes
3. Record your observations.