Question

How does knowing the reactants and products help you classify a chemical reaction? Write a short paragraph explaining.

Answer 1

Answer:

This is wirtten all in one paragraph, because that is what the question asks.

There are five main type of reactions under which you can classify most chemical reactions. Those are: combination (also known as shythesis), decomposition, combustion, single replacement and double replacement. You know that it is a synthesis (combination) reactions when there are two reactants and one single product (the two reactants are combined to form one single product). When you have one single reactant and two or more products, it is a decomposition reaction (the one reactant decomposed). When oxygen is one of the reactants the reaction is a combustion. When ions are exchanged you are in front of replacement reactions: if it is one ion which is exchanged it is single replacement, and if there are two reactants and two products in which the ions are exchanged, then it is a double replacement reaction.

Answer 2

If there are more products than reactants, then it is a decomposition reaction.

If there are more reactants than products, it is a synthesis reaction.

If oxygen is a part of the reactant, it is a combustion reaction.

If one ion replaces another, it is a single replacement reaction.

If there are two compounds in a reactant where cations switch, it is a double replacement reaction.