You need a periodic table of elements for this.

Depending on the group that each element

is in, you can find out how many electrons it gains or loses. If it is in the first group, it
will lose 1 electron. second, group, 2 electrons. And so on. The line that divides
nonmetals from metals (it's the diagonal line near the top right of the table) tells you
whether it gains or loses. To the left of that loses, and to the right of the line gains
electrons. The far right group stays the same. They are the Noble gases and are the most
stable. Therefore in order to become stable, elements will either gain or lose electrons in
order to have the same electron configuration. The atom will gain or lose depending on
how much energy it takes to do so. It goes with the path that takes the least energy. This
is what the line tells you, whether it is easier to lose electrons to become stable, or to gain
electrons to become stable.

1.SYNTHESIS REACTIONS
Also known as a composition reaction, a
synthesis reaction is a reaction in which two or
more substances combine to form a new
compound.
It is represented by the general equation:

A + X AX

where A and X can be elements or compounds and

AX is a compound.

Examples of synthesis reactions include:

Synthesis of sodium chloride
Na(s) + Cl(g)
Synthesis of magnesium oxide
Mg(s) + O2(g)
Synthesis of water
H2(g) + O2(g)

2. DECOMPOSITION REACTION

A decomposition reaction is the reverse of a

synthesis reaction and is a reaction in which a
single compound undergoes a reaction that
produces two or more simpler substances.
It is represented by the general equation:

AX A + X

where AX is the compound and and A and X can be

elements or compounds.
Most decomposition reactions take place only when
energy in the form of
electricity or heat is added.

include:

Examples of decomposition reactions

Decomposition of water
H2O(l)
Decomposition of lead (II) carbonate
PbCO3(s)
Decomposition of sodium iodide
NaI(s)

3. SINGLE-REPLACEMENT REACTIONS

A single-replacement reaction, or displacement

reaction, is a reaction in which one element
replaces a similar element in a compound.
It is represented by the general equation:

A + BX AX + B
Or

Y + BX BY + X
where A, B, X, and Y are elements and AX, BX, and
BY are compounds.
Many single-replacement reactions take place in
water, and in comparison to both synthesis and
decomposition reactions, the amount of energy
required for a single-replacement reaction is smaller .

Examples of single-replacement reactions

include:
Thermite reaction
Al(s) + Fe2O3(s)
Reaction of solid calcium and water
Ca(s) + H2O(l)
Reaction of solid lithium and chlorine gas

Li(s) + Cl2(g)

4. DOUBLE-REPLACEMENT REACTIONS
A double replacement reaction is a reaction in
which the ions of two compounds exchange
places in an aqueous solution to form two new
compounds.
One of the new compounds that form are usually a
precipitate, an insoluble gas that bubbles out of
solution, or a molecular compound (usually water).
The other compound which forms is usually soluble
and remains in solution.
Double-replacement reactions are represented by the
general equation:

AX + BY AY + BX

where A, X, B, and Y in the reactants represent ions

and products AY and BX represent ionic or molecular
compounds.

Examples of double-replacement reactions

include:

Reactions of silver nitrate with sodium chloride

and silver nitrate with sodium iodide
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq)
AgNO3(aq) + NaI(aq)
Reaction of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide
H2SO4(aq) + NaOH(aq)
***There are two special cases which have specific names
given to them.***
1. When the reaction is between two ionic compounds
and they form a precipitate, this reaction is also
called a precipitation. The first examples given
above show precipitation reactions.
2. When the reaction is between an acid (any
compound that forms hydrogen ions) and a
base (any compound that forms hydroxide
ions), water is formed as one of the products. This is

called neutralization. An example of a

neutralization reaction is seen in the reaction above
between sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide.

5. COMBUSTION REACTIONS
A combustion reaction is a reaction in which a
substance combines with oxygen and releases
a large amount of energy in the form of heat
and light.

Examples of combustion reactions include:

Three balloons of H2 and one of H2/O2 mixture

H2(g) + O2(g)
Burning of methane (a hydrocarbon)
CH4(g) + O2(g)
Burning of hexane (a hydrocarbon)
C6H14(l) + O2(g)
***Typically, combustion reactions occur when
hydrocarbons react with oxygen to produce carbon
dioxide and water, and will have the general
equation

CxHy + O2 CO2+ H2O

where x represents the number of carbon atoms and y the
number of
hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon

Hydrocarbons are a class of compounds that

primarily consist of hydrogen and carbon.***