Predicting Outcomes of Chemical Reactions

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Reactants Noun

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[ree-ak-tants]

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Reactants

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The starting substances that are present at the beginning of a chemical reaction and are consumed during the process.

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Example: This diagram shows that reactants (like methane and oxygen on the left) are the starting ingredients that combine and change during a chemical reaction.

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Products Noun

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[prod-ukts]

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Products

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The new substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction, appearing on the right side of an equation.

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Example: In a chemical reaction, the starting materials (reactants) are transformed into new substances called products, shown here as carbon dioxide and water.

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Combination reaction Noun

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[kom-bi-nay-shun ree-ak-shun]

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Combination reaction

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A chemical reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a single, more complex compound.

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Example: This diagram shows two simpler substances, hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂), combining to form a single, more complex substance, water (H₂O).

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Decomposition reaction Noun

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[dee-kom-po-zish-un ree-ak-shun]

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Decomposition reaction

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A chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances.

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Example: A large starch molecule (a polysaccharide) is broken down by digestion into many smaller, simpler glucose molecules (monosaccharides), illustrating a decomposition reaction.

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Single-replacement reaction Noun

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[sing-guhl ree-plays-ment ree-ak-shun]

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Single-replacement reaction

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A chemical reaction in which one element replaces a similar element in a compound.

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Example: When zinc powder is added to a copper sulfate solution, the more reactive zinc replaces the copper, creating a colorless solution and releasing heat.

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Double-replacement reaction Noun

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[dub-uhl ree-plays-ment ree-ak-shun]

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Double-replacement reaction

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A reaction where positive and negative ions of two ionic compounds exchange places to form two new compounds.

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Example: This image shows two compounds, Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl), swapping parts to form two new compounds, Silver Chloride (AgCl) and Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3).

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Combustion reaction Noun

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[kum-bus-chun ree-ak-shun]

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Combustion reaction

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A chemical reaction in which a substance reacts rapidly with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light.

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Example: A hydrocarbon fuel (like wood) reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of heat and light.

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Synthesis reaction Noun

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[sin-thuh-sis ree-ak-shun]

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Synthesis reaction

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Another term for a combination reaction, where multiple reactants combine to form a single, more complex product.

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Example: This image shows two examples of a synthesis reaction, where simpler substances (like C and O2) combine to form a more complex product (CO2).

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Hydrocarbon Noun

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[hy-dro-kar-buhn]

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Hydrocarbon

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An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, often used as fuel in combustion reactions.

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Example: This image shows a model of methane (CH₄), the simplest hydrocarbon, which is a molecule made of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

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Activity series Noun

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[ak-tiv-i-tee seer-eez]

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Activity series

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A list of elements, typically metals or halogens, ranked in order of decreasing chemical reactivity.

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Example: This chart ranks metals by reactivity, from most reactive (Potassium) at the top to least reactive (Platinum) at the bottom, predicting chemical reaction outcomes.