Classifying Chemical Reactions
Name: _____________________________________
Partner: _________________________________
Discussion Question #1 will be evaluated – 25 marks (5 marks per reaction)
- 2 marks for correct reactants and products
- 1 mark for states
- 1 mark for balancing
- 1 mark for type of reaction
Prelab
Prelab questions MUST be completed and shown to Ms. Pokoradi BEFORE beginning the lab.
1. Name the type of reaction
a) NaBr + Ca(OH)2  CaBr2 + NaOH
Type of reaction: _________________________________
b) NH3+ H2SO4 (NH4)2SO4
Type of reaction: _________________________________
c) Pb + H3PO4  H2 + Pb3(PO4)2
Type of reaction: _________________________________
d) HgO  Hg + O2
Type of reaction: _________________________________
Classifying Chemical Reactions
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to perform and classify different chemical reactions, to identify the reactants and
products of each reaction, and to write and balance equations for each reaction.
Materials
Materials and instructions will be provided for you at each station. You MUST wear goggles at all times.
Procedure
1. This lab is divided into stations. Follow the instructions at each station carefully.
2. The reactants are written on the station cards. Record the reactants for each reaction in Table 1.
3. Record all observations for each reaction in Table 1.
Include any physical observations (colour, clarity and state) and observations that suggest a
chemical reaction has occurred (gas formation, temperature change, colour change).
Table 1: Observing Various Chemical Reactions
Station
A
B
C
D
E
Reactants
Observations
Discussion Questions
1. For each reaction, write the balanced chemical equation including the states, and name the type of
reaction that occurred.
Station
A
Balanced Chemical Equation
B
C
D
E
2. How can you tell if a chemical reaction has occurred? What did you look for?
3. What gas was formed in Reaction A?
Type of Reaction
4. What gas was formed in Reaction B?
5. For Reaction C:
a) If you were allowed to touch the products of the reaction, what do you think it would feel like?
b) Name a different compound you could add to copper (II) sulfate to form a precipitate. Use your
Solubility Table to aid in this answer.
6. Reaction D could also be used with copper wire. There is more than one possible product for the
reaction of solid copper with oxygen gas.
a) Name the two possible products.
b) Explain a reaction that could be performed to determine which product was formed in the
reaction.
7. What type of reaction would occur if the reactants used for this station were MgSO4(aq) and Cu(s)?
STATION B
Reactants:
calcium metal **Be extremely careful. This metal is reactive!
water
Procedure:
1. Record the reactants in your table.
2. Fill a beaker half full with water.
3. Using the tweezers or a scoopula add a small piece of calcium metal to the water in the
beaker
4. Describe the reaction that is occurring in your table.
5. Dispose of the calcium and liquid into the waste beaker.
6. Wash the beaker.
STATION A
Reactants:
3 mol/L hydrochloric acid (HCl)  This acid will burn your skin. Wash your hands immediately
if you spill any.
zinc metal dust
Procedure:
1. Record the reactants in your table.
2. Place about 2 cm of hydrochloric acid into the test tube.
3. Use a scoopula to add a small amount of zinc to the test tube.
4. Record your observations.
5. Pour the product into the waste beaker.
6. Wash the test tube.
STATION C
Reactants:
1 mol/L sodium hydroxide
copper (II) sulfate
Procedure:
1. Record the reactants in your table.
2. Place about 2 cm of sodium hydroxide into the test tube.
3. Add a few drops of copper (II) sulfate to the test tube.
4. Record your observations. You may need to make a few observations as the reaction
progresses.
5. Pour the products into the waste beaker.
6. Wash the test tube.
STATION E
Reactants:
magnesium ribbon
copper (II) sulfate
Procedure:
1. Record the reactants in your table.
2. Place about 2 cm of copper (II) sulfate into the test tube.
3. Add a small piece of magnesium ribbon to the test tube.
4. Lightly swirl the test tube so that the magnesium doesn’t simply sit on the top of the
solution.
5. Record your observations.
6. Pour the products into the waste beaker.
7. Wash the test tube.
STATION D
Reactant:
Magnesium metal + oxygen 
Procedure:
1. Record the reactants in your table.
2. Light the Bunsen burner.
3. Using a pair of tongs, hold the magnesium ribbon over the flame.
4. Do not look directly at the magnesium in the flame.
5. Record your observations.
6. Dispose of the product in the garbage.