Lesson Plan : Reaction Types

This lesson plan is intended to be a guide to see how a demonstration might fit in to the lesson,
information wise. This lesson plan does not contain the modes of how to teach, rather a
suggested outline of information.

Students will:

 know the different types of reactions and their general forms

 classify the type of reaction
 record observations for 6 chemical reactions

Lesson

1. Walk students through the Reaction Types PowerPoint as they take notes (see chart
below). Incomplete combustion can be related to students by explaining that this is why
cars can’t be started in closed garages in the winter – because carbon monoxide is
poisonous. Single displacement can be tricky for students. Emphasizing that a metal will
kick out a cation and a nonmetal will kick out an anion can help alleviate student
confusion.
2. Have students do Reaction Types Lab (below) in pairs so that they can practice
classifying the type of reaction. Reaction F should be done as a class so that the lights
are off at only one time, see Igniting Magnesium. Students will also get to practice
identifying the evidences of chemical reactions in their observations.
The directions for the lab that can be set out at lab stations:

Reaction A

1. Add about 5 drops of 1 M calcium chloride, CaCl2, to a clean watch glass.

2. Next, add about 5 drops of 1 M sodium carbonate, Na2CO3.
3. Rinse and clean the watch glass.

Reaction B
1. Add about 5 drops of 0.2 M silver nitrate, AgNO3 to a clean watch glass.
2. Next, add about 5 drops of 0.2 M potassium chromate, KCrO4.
3. Rinse and clean the watch glass.

Reaction C
1. Stand a large clean test tube in the test tube rack and add 10 drops of 1 M hydrochloric
acid (HCl). Carefully drop a few pieces of magnesium into test tube and use a rubber
stopper to lightly seal it. Observe for about 45 seconds.
2. Have your lab partner light a match and immediately remove the rubber stopper while
your lab partner places the match in the opening of the test tube. You should hear a
“whoop!” which indicates the presence of hydrogen gas that is reacting with oxygen gas.
3. Rinse the test tube, but place any physical debris in the trash after it has been rinsed.

Reaction D
1. Place a small scoop of copper (II) carbonate, CuCO3, in a clean test tube.
2. Heat it strongly in the burner flame for 1 minute. Aim the mouth of the test tube away

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JMU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
 from yourself and others.
3. Light a match and place it in the opening of the test tube. The flame should extinguish
from the lack of oxygen in the test tube.
4. Place contents of test tube in the trash and rinse it out.

Reaction E
1. Add 5 drops of 95% ethanol (C2H5OH) to a clean watch glass. Light a match and drop it
in the ethanol.
2. Wet the match before throwing it away and wiping the watch glass clean.

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 Reaction Type Definition General Format Example

Complete Combustion

Incomplete
Combustion

Synthesis

Decomposition

Single Displacement

Double Displacement
Reaction Types Lab Name __________________________

Date ____________ Block _________

OBSERVATIONS
REACTION BEFORE REACTION AFTER REACTION

A
B

ANALYSIS
The following equations represent each actual reaction that occurred. Balance each equation.
Then classify the reaction as to what type it is and give that type’s general form.

A. ___CaCl2 (aq) + ___Na2CO3 (aq)  ___CaCO3 (s) + ___NaCl (aq)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________

B. ___AgNO3 (aq) + ___K2CrO4 (aq)  ___Ag2CrO4 (s) + ___KNO3 (aq)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________

C. ___Mg (s) + ___HCl (aq)  ___MgCl2 (aq) + ___H2 (g)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________

D. ___CuCO3 (s)  ___CuO (s) + ___CO2 (g)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________

E. ___C2H5OH (l) + ___O2 (g)  ___CO2 (g) + ___H2O (g)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________

F. ___Mg (s) + ___O2 (g)  ___MgO (s)

Type:__________________ General Form: __________________