Identifying Chemical Reactions—Multi-Demonstration Kit

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Recognizing chemical reactions and “translating” them into chemical equations are essential skills students need in order to be successful in chemistry. Review the different types of chemical reactions and help your students succeed using this colorful collection of five demonstrations.
• Combination Reaction—Adding water to calcium oxide produces calcium hydroxide, along with enough heat to fry an egg!
• Decomposition Reaction—Fill a Petri dish with salt and universal indicator solution, attach alligator clips and a battery, and observe a rainbow of color changes as the water molecules split apart.
• Single Replacement Reaction—Aluminum dissolves and copper metal precipitates when aluminum foil is placed in a solution of copper(II) chloride.
• Double Replacement Reaction—Mixing copper(II) chloride and sodium phosphate produces a beautiful green precipitate.
• Combustion Reaction—Add a little isopropyl alcohol to a 2-L soda bottle, ignite the vapors, and “whoosh”! The combustion of isopropyl alcohol and oxygen produces a rush of gases and a spectacular blue flame.

Use the demonstrations singly as a way to introduce each new topic, or perform all the demonstrations together as a review of reaction types.

Concepts: Combination reaction, combustion, decomposition, electrolysis, exothermic reaction, oxidation–reduction, precipitation reaction, single and double replacement.
Time Required: One full class period
Note: Some common laboratory equipment is required, but not provided.