Types of Reactions

In order to fully understand what is happening with a chemical reaction you had to be able to first understand what is happening. To do this first you have to understand the concept that matter can't be made or destroyed. With this in mind that means that when a chemical reaction happens that each side of the equation has to be balanced. For Example: To start it off basic when you have 2Na+Cl2----> 2NaCl. This equation above is balanced and a synthesis reaction. A synthesis reaction occurs when two or more substances react to produce a single product. Another simple equation: C+O2----> CO2 and this is a combustion reaction. A combustion reaction is when oxygen combines with a substance and releases energy in the form of heat and light. Note that some of the combustion reactions are synthesis reactions too like the one above, but not all are this way. CH4+2O2---->CO2+2H2O, This is an example of a combustion equation that isn't also synthesis. Another type of reaction is the decomposition reaction. This reaction occurs when a singe compound breaks down into two or more elements or new compounds. NH4NO3--->N2O+2H2O is an example of this reaction. There is also two different types of on kind of reaction, single and double replacement reactions. A single replacement reaction happens when a retain in which the atoms of one element replace the atoms of another element in a compound. When 2Li+2H2O--->2LiOH+H2 is an example because as you can see the Oxygen and Hydrogen combines with lithium. Then a double replacement occurs like this; Ca(OH)2+CuCl2--->CaCl2+Cu(OH)2. A simple to think of this is AX+BY--->AY+BX,  this helped me a lot when dealing with all the reactions that we looked at in class.

              1. Synthesis Reaction

              2. Decomposition Reaction

              3. Single Replacement Reaction

              4. Double Replacement Reaction



By knowing how to balance equations it helps to understand what the reactions do. For example when you perform a lab it is easy to do a lab report because you know exactly what is happening in the reaction. We did many different labs in class (will try to get pictures up soon), but we had to balance equations and work ineptly in order to really tell what was going on with the reaction that was occurring in front of our eyes. Knowing how to balance equations and understand what is happening has made me look deeply into the world that we live in. I will never be able to look at anything the same again. When anyone goes to light a candle or even grill a steak, I will be able to look into what is happening and possibly even be a little educated and show my parents what I have been learning by explaining what is happening. It will be a fun process now that I have this deep of knowledge into this really fun field of science.

Chemical Bonding

Chemicals bond in three different ways; ionic, covalent, or both. To have an ionic bond, the formula has to have a metal and nonmetal. In order to have a covalent bond in the formula has to have two nonmetals bonding together. Finally to have both bonds happening at the same time a polyatomic ion is needed.

Below is a picture of a worksheet we did in class that demonstrates how each bond can be determined and my ability to name each bond that is happening. 

Naming Compounds

When naming compounds and formulas it is really quite simple. Using our charts that Mr. Ludwig handed out we were able to name the formulas and compounds. Below is a quiz that we took and as you can see I did really well only messing up because I superscripted instead of subscripting which was an easy fix for me to make.

 In this picture below we named molecular compounds. By adding prefixes and suffixes we were able to determine what each formula made.

After being able to name the compounds we moved on to how they would combine to actually make the compounds. The picture below shows that by looking at the valence electrons you can determine how the compound will combine to become stable.

The Periodic Table

This table is very important in the world of chemistry. The way that the table is organized in a very specific way that allows for better understanding. We will also look into how to we know what the energy level of an atom is, and how big the atomic radii is. As we look into the design you will notice patterns and specific details about the periodic table that will help you understand chemistry even better.  As you look into this blog.

The history of the periodic table is very interesting. It started off as a list of elements that were known since the prehistoric times. Then by the 1870's there were about 70 elements known. Then Newlands came along and noticed that by arranging the elements by increasing atomic mass he noticed that the first and eighth elements had similar properties and that the second and ninth elements did too. He noticed that this was a periodic pattern and named it the law of octane. Though not popular with other scientist his law was for the most part correct, the properties of elements do repeat in a periodic way. Mendeleev later came about as a Russian chemists. He used the increasing atomic mass and properties. By doing this he created the first periodic table. This table also predicted the existence and properties of undiscovered elements. The table was yet to be perfect though as it was proven with advancements that the atomic mass put elements together with different properties and out of order. Henry Moseley came up with the idea of arranging the table with the atomic number and by doing this the order of the elements was solved. The periodic table was now in a clear periodic pattern of properties.

The periodic table to with is divided into rows and columns or are also called groups and periods. The columns  or groups are vertical on the periodic table and the rows are horizontal. Each group is set up because of a similarity in the outer shell of valence electrons. The groups all have the same number of valence electrons. Then the periods are set up also to show an increase a long of valence electrons. As the period continues on the periodic table the elements pick up one valence electron in their outer shell. This is important in chemistry because it really helps you to understand how the chemical reaction will happen and which elements will react with each other to create a different element.

When looking deeper into the periodic table you will find that the periodic table is set up to show how reactions will happen and how stable the electrons are. As you look at the periodic table you will notice that as you go from left to right the elements will become stabler and in the end become stable, then another row happens and starts back to unstable.

There are four blocks of the periodic table can be shown by using the s-block, p-block, d-block, and the   f-block. By using these blocks it is easy to determine the number of valence electrons and be able to write out the correct configuration of the element. It also shows that the energy level of an atom's valence electrons equals it's period number.

When dealing with the atomic radii it is really simple. For the most part the radii will decrease as you move along the periodic table and increase in size as you move down a group. Below is a picture of questions I did out of the book that will help in this category.

 

I hope that this blog has helped out in your understanding with the periodic table. Once you get the hang of how everything works with it I promise you that it will become your best friend in chemistry.