There are five types of chemical reaction. Decomposition is where one compounds breaks down into one or more elements or new elements. Synthesis is where two or more substances are combined and they only form one product. Combustion is where oxygen combines with a substance to release energy in the form of light and heat. In a single replacement reaction one atom replaces another atom in a compound. In a double replacement reaction there is an exchange of ions between two compounds. The products are either water, precipitate, or carbon dioxide.
For a double replacement reaction we did an experiment with zinc acetate and sodium phosphate. Before we mixed the two compounds they were both clear. After we mixed them it turned a milky color and there was chunky white stuff in the test tube. The two compounds formed a precipitate and that is one way of knowing a double replacement reaction took place.
For single replacement we did an experiment with zinc and copper (II) sulfate. Before we mixed them the zinc it was a silver color and the color of the copper (II) sulfate was a teal color. After a long while the zinc was covered with a copper brown color and the copper (II) sulfate was a lighter color than what we started with. The zinc replaced the copper and that is how we knew it was single replacement.
For a synthesis reaction we did two experiment one with Mg and another with a Cu wire. We burned both of them and in the end we got one product. The product for each experiment was magnesium oxide and copper oxide.
