Even though there are millions of possible chemical reactions that take place in nature, in industry and in labs all over the world,
there are only five main types:
Type of Reaction
General Formula and
Representation of Reaction
Synthesis Reaction
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magnesium + oxygen  magnesium oxide
__ Mg(s) + __ O2(g)  __ MgO(s)
Decomposition
Reaction
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water  hydrogen + oxygen
__ H2O(l)  __ H2(g) + __ O2(g)
Single Displacement
Reaction
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iron + copper (II) sulfate 
copper + iron (II) sulfate
__ Fe(s) + __ CuSO4(aq)  __ Cu(s) + __ FeSO4(s)
Model and Celebrity
Analogy
Example
Type of Reaction
General Formula and
Representation of Reaction
Model and Celebrity
Analogy
Example
Double Displacement
Reaction
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silver nitrate + potassium iodide 
silver iodide + potassium nitrate
__ AgNO3(aq) + __ KI(aq)  __ AgI(s) + __ KNO3(aq)
**Neutralization
Reactions
- A type of double
displacement reaction
involving a class of
chemicals called acids
and bases that react to
form water and an
ionic salt (compound)
Combustion
Reactions
acid + base 
water + salt
hydrocarbon + oxygen 
carbon dioxide + water + energy
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__ CH4(g) + __ O2(g)  __ C02(g) + __ H2O(l) + energy
**We will be learning more about this type of double displacement reaction in the Acid and Base chapter of the Chemistry Unit.