Predicting Chemical Equations: Rule Summary
Synthesis:
• Element + Element
Binary Compound
• Metal Oxide + Water
Metal Hydroxide
• Nonmetal Oxide + Water
Oxyacids
• Metal Oxide + Nonmetal Oxide
Salt
Decomposition:
• Binary compounds
Element + Element
• Metal Carbonate
Metal Oxide + Carbon Dioxide
• Metal Hydroxide
Metal Oxide + Water
• Metal Chlorate
Metal Chloride + Oxygen
• Oxyacids
Nonmetal Oxide + Water
Single Replacement:
• Metals can replace other metals if allowed according to reactivity on
Activity Series
• Metals replace hydrogen in an acid if allowed according to Activity Series
• Metals replacing hydrogen in water:
o 1st section: metal hydroxide and Hydrogen
o 2nd section: metal oxide and hydrogen
o 3rd section: no reaction
• Halogens can replaced other halogens if allowed according to reactivity on
Activity Series
Double Replacement:
• Could need to analyze products using solubility chart: does at least one of
your products meet one of the three requirements for a double
replacement reaction to occur?
Combustion:
• Hydrocarbon + Oxygen
• Element + Oxygen
Carbon dioxide + Water
Oxide
**Remember the compounds that decompose upon forming (H2SO3, H2CO3, and
NH4OH