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Concept

Demonstrations

Combination Reactions

Combination reactions begin with two or more substances and when the reaction is complete form a single product substance

            Hydrogen Explosions

            Magnesium Burning

            Oxidation of Phosphorus

            Reaction of White Phosphorus and  Chlorine

            Reaction of Zinc and Iodine

            Reaction of Zinc and Sulfur

Combustion reactions are reactions that produce light and heat as energy products in addition to new chemical substances

            Magnesium Burning

            Reaction of Acetylene and Chlorine Gases

Decomposition reactions begin with a single substance and form two or more new product substances

            Decomposition of Ammonium Dichromate

            Elephants' Toothpaste

            Explosive Decomposition                

            Genie in a Bottle

            Preparation of Oxygen Gas from Bleach

Disproportionation reactions begin with an element in one oxidation state but produce products in which that element appears in two different oxidation states (the starting element has been both oxidized and reduced)

            Reaction of Phosphorus with Sodium Hydroxide

Double replacement reactions are reactions in which the elements or ions of both reactants change partners to form two new products

            Precipitate Formation:  Cobalt(II)Hydroxide

            Precipitate Formation: Cobalt(III)Saccharate Hexahydrate

            Precipitate Formation:  Lead(II)Iodide

Equilibrium reactions are chemical reactions in which all reactants and products are present simultaneously

            Ammonia Fountain

Nitration is a chemical reaction in which a substance undergoes the introduction of a nitro group, --NO₂

            Combustion of Nitrocellulose

Photochemical reactions rely on light energy for chemical transformations to occur

            Blueprint Paper

Photoreduction reactions are chemical reactions in which a substance has gained electrons, that is, been reduced

            Blueprint Paper

Polymer modification is a method by which polymers are converted to structurally modified molecules having different properties than the starting polymer

            Combustion of Nitrocellulose

Redox Reactions

Redox reactions are chemical reactions in which one substance loses electrons (is oxidized) and another substance simultaneously gains electrons (is reduced); "redox" is a contraction of the words "reduction-oxidation"

            Decomposition of Ammonium Dichromate

            Explosive Decomposition

            Formation of a Copper Mirror

            Formation of a Silver Mirror

            Hydrogen Gas from the Reaction of Magnesium Metal with Acid

            Preparation of Chlorine Gas from Bleach

            Reaction of Zinc and Iodine

            Reaction of Zinc and Sulfur

            The Thermite Process

Respiration

Respiration is the sum total of biological oxidation processes which results in the oxidation of carbon to carbon dioxide

            Carbon Dioxide from Respiration

Reversible Chemical Reactions

Reversible chemical reactions are those in which reactants and products are in equilibrium

            Solution Equilibrium

Selective Organic Reactions

Selective organic reactions are chemical reactions which "select" only a portion of an organic starting molecule for transformation

            Formation of a Silver Mirror

Spontaneous Combustion

Spontaneous combustion refers to the apparently spontaneous production of heat and light by a chemical reaction

            Reaction of Phosphorus with Sodium Hydroxide