Help with Chemistry *Writing the chemical equation, balancing it and telling its type?

Question

I am currently working with Synthesis Reaction, Decomposition Reaction, Single-Replacement Reaction, Double-Replacement Reaction and Combustion Reaction. I am given a few problems and told to do them, but I do not understand them, here is my first one

MagnesiumBromide + Chlorine ------>

Now I do understand balancing after you get the entire equation, but what I don't understand is how to balance the above, get the second side of it and figure out witch of the above 5 types I gave it will turn into. If anyone has either a really detailed site explaining how to do this then I would love that or if someone would like to show me how to go through this problem, then that would be awesome as well. Ill go ahead and give one more in case someone decides to show me how to do this and I would be pleased with a second walk through as well with this one.

Aluminum + Iron(III)Oxide ----->

Please and thank you all!!

Answer 1

Single replacement since it has a molecule and an element reacting and one element replacing another. One negatively charged element (Cl) will replace the other (Br). You have to check the activity series to ensure the reaction takes place and since Cl is above Br, it does. Also, Cl is a diatomic so you write as Cl2. The magnesium is charged as +2 and the Br as -1 as well as the Cl so those charges have to balaced with 2 Br with 1 Mg as seen below. No balancing is needed since it is done (there are an equal number of each element on each side):

MgBr2 + Cl2 = Mg Cl2 + Br 2

For the next reaction, it is another single replacement since once again, there is only one replacement (the Al will take the place of Fe). Look up the charges and use them to balance the product molecule. Check the activity series to see if Aluminum is more reactive than Fe (it is) to ensure the reaction takes place.

Al + Fe2 O3 = Al2 O3 + Fe

Now we need to balance. There is 1 Al on the reactant side and 2 on the product. There are 2 Fe on the reactant side and only 1 on the product. The Oxygens are balanced with three on each side so the result is:
2 Al + Fe 2 O 3 = Al2 O3 + 2 Fe

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Both of these are single displacement reactions b/c you have a compound and an element. Think of it as a couple dancing and a person cuts in - takes the place of one of the pair. If the replacement is a positive it will take the place of the positive element in the compound.

MgBr2(subscript) + Cl2(subscript) ------> MgCl2 + Br2


2Al + Fe2O3 ------> Al2O3 + 2Fe

If it is a double displacement reaction then it is 2 compounds and they switch partners.
Synthesis is the combination of elements and/or compounds with 1 product. Ex: a couple getting married
Decomp is the breaking up of a compound into parts - a couple getting divorced.

This is how I teach my class - Hope it helps!

Answer 3

MgBr₂+Cl₂→MgCl₂+Br₂ is a single displacement. This reaction would normally be done by bubbling chlorine gas into an aqueous solution.

2Al+Fe₂O₃→Al₂O₃+2Fe could also be thought of as a single displacement, but if you've ever watched a thermite bomb (I have, in fact, I've made them) you'd consider it more like a combustion. The iron is molten and melted holes in the tuna can I set it off in!

Answer 4

MgBr2 + Cl2 ===> MgCl2 + Br2 Single replacement

2Al(s) + Fe2O3(s) ===> 2Fe(l!) + Al2O3(s) (Single replacement; this is the thermit reaction.)