EXPERIMEMT 6- Observing Chemical Reactions/Writing Chemical Equations
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment was to become familiar with writing and balancing
chemical equations by experimenting with the chemicals. There were three types of chemical
reactions namely single displacement, double displacement and neutralization reactions. Single
displacement reaction occurs when a free element displaces another from a compound to produce
a different compound and a free element.
A + BY AY +B
Double displacement reactions occur when two compounds exchange ions to form new
compounds. On of the products is a compound that will separate from the reaction mixture
mostly as a solid or gas or a stable molecular compound like water.
AX + BY AY +BX
Neutralization reaction is double replacement reactions between an acid and a base where
the acid and base react to form salt and water. It is accompanied by liberation of heat.
Procedure
Direction: note all observations carefully, repeat the section if you are uncertain and record the
observational changes.
For both the single and double replacement experiments, approximately 1 ml of solution
is used unless otherwise indicated. First, we experimented with the double replacement reactions
in DD1, 0.1 M NaOH was added to 0.1 M MgCl2 to an equal volume. In DD2, 2 ml of 2.0 M
NaOH was added to an equal volume of was added to 0.1 M MgCl2 to an equal volume. In DD2,
2 mL of 2.0M NaOH was added to an equal volume of 1.0 M H2SO4. In DD3, 0.1 M Na2S was
added dropwise to an equal volume of 0.1 M ZnCl2. In DD4, 1.0 M HCl was added dropwise to
the solid CaCO3. In DD5, 1.0 M H2SO4 was added dropwise to the solid CaCO3. In DD6, 0.1 M
NH4OH was added dropwise to 0.1 M CuCl2 and was then shaken and observed with the addition
of each drop. Next were the single replacement reaction experiments. In SD1, a piece of zinc
metal was dropped into 3.0 M H2SO4. In SD2, a piece of zinc metal was dropped into 0.1 M
CuSO4.
Results
DD1. Aqueous magnesium chloride reacted with aqueous sodium hydroxide to form solid
magnesium hydroxide and aqueous sodium chloride.
MgCl2 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) → Mg(OH)2 (s) + 2 NaCl (aq)
DD2. Aqueous sodium hydroxide reacted with aqueous sulfuric acid to form aqueous sodium
sulfate and water.
2NaOH (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) → (Na)2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O (aq)
DD3. Aqueous zinc chloride reacted with aqueous sodium sulfide to form solid zinc sulfide and
aqueous sodium chloride.
Zn(Cl)2 (aq) + (Na)2S (aq) → ZnS (s) + 2NaCl (aq)
DD4. Solid calcium carbonate reacted with aqueous hydrochloric acid to form solid calcium
chloride and aqueous carbonic acid.
CaCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → Ca(Cl)2 (s) + CO2 (g) + H2O (aq)
DD5. Solid calcium carbonate reacted with aqueous sulfuric acid to form solid calcium sulfate
and aqueous carbonic acid.
CaCO3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → CaSO4 (s) + H2CO3 (aq)
DD6. Aqueous copper chloride reacted with aqueous ammonium hydroxide to form solid copper
hydroxide and aqueous ammonium chloride.
CuCl2 (aq) + 2NH4OH (aq) → Cu(OH)2 (s) + 2NH4Cl (aq)
SD1. Solid zinc reacted with aqueous sulfuric acid to form aqueous zinc sulfate and hydrogen
gas.
Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)
SD2. Solid zinc reacted with aqueous copper sulfate to form aqueous zinc sulfate and solid
copper.
Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
Discussion
Once the reactants were mixed, observation was made about the products and the
reactants, and each was different due to difference in compounds being mixed. For instance, in
reaction DD1, we expect a cloudy and had to be centrifuged to dissolve MgOH in NaCl to get
clear and colorless solution. In reaction DD6, when the ammonium hydroxide was added, the solution
became a light blue color. Once centrifuged, the liquid was clear and there was a blue solid (copper
hydroxide) at the bottom of the test tube. In reaction SD1, when the sulfuric acid was added to the zinc
metal, bubbles formed around the zinc metal and did not disappear during the duration of the lab. In
experiments such as this, the use of a solubility table can be very useful in identifying a product formed in
a chemical reaction.