Class 10 Science


Types of Chemical Reaction

On this page, you will read about two types of chemical reaction, viz. combination reaction and decomposition reaction. You will also read various types of decomposition reactions such as photolytic decomposition and electrolytic decomposition.

These notes are based on the chapter Chemical Reactions and Equations from NCERT book based on CBSE syllabus.

Chemical reactions can be classified as following types:

Combination Reaction

Reactions in which two or more reactants combine to form one product are called COMBINATION REACTION.

A general combination reaction can be represented by the chemical equation given here.

A + B → AB

In this imaginary reaction, A and B are reactants. They undergo combination reaction to form the product AB.

Example 1: When magnesium is burnt in air (oxygen), magnesium oxide is formed. In this reaction, magnesium combines with oxygen to give magnesium oxide.

Mg + O2 → 2MgO

Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide

Example 2: When carbon is burnt in oxygen (air), carbon dioxide is formed. In this reaction, carbon combines with oxygen to give carbon dioxide.

C + O2 → CO2

Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide

Example 3: When hydrogen reacts with chlorine, hydrogen chloride is formed. Int this reaction, hydrogen combines with chlorine to give hydrogen chloride.

H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl

Hydrogen + Chlorine → Hydrogen chloride

Example 4: When calcium oxide reacts with water, calcium hydroxide is formed. In this reaction, calcium combines with hydroxide ion to give calcium hydroxide.

CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2

Calcium oxide + Water → Calcium hydroxide

Example 5: When carbon monoxide reacts with oxygen, carbon dioxide is formed. In this reaction, carbon monoxide combines with oxygen to give carbon dioxide.

2CO + O2 → 2CO2

Carbon monoxide + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide

Decomposition Reaction

Reactions in which one compound decomposes in two or more compounds or element are known as DECOMPOSITION REACTION. Decomposition reaction is just opposite of combination reaction.

A general decomposition reaction can be represented as follows:

AB → A + B

In this imaginary reaction, AB is a reactant. It undergoes decomposition to give two products, i.e. A and B.

Example 1: When calcium carbonate is heated, it decomposes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide

CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

Calcium carbonate → Calcium oxide + Carbon dioxide

Example 2: When ferric hydroxide is heated, it decomposes into ferric oxide and water

2Fe(OH)3 → Fe2O3 + 3H2O

Ferric hydroxide → Ferric oxide + Water

Example 3: When lead nitrate is heated, it decomposes into lead oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.

2Pb(NO3)2 → 2PbO + 4NO2 + O2

Lead nitrate → Lead oxide + Nitrogen oxide + Oxygen

In above examples, compound is decomposed because of heating, so, these reactions are called THERMAL DECOMPOSITION REACTION.

Electrolytic Decomposition

Reactions in which compounds decompose into simpler compounds because of passage of electricity, are known as ELECTROLYTIC DECOMPOSITION. In other words, decomposition because of electric current is called electrolytic decomposition. This is also known as ELECTROLYSIS.

Example 1: When electricity is passed in water, it decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen.

2H2O → 2H2 + O2

Photolysis or Photo Decomposition Reaction:

Reactions in which a compound decomposes because of sunlight are known as PHOTOLYSIS or PHOTO DECOMPOSITION REACTION. In other words, decomposition due to light is called photo-decomposition.

Example 2: When silver chloride is put in sunlight, it decomposes into silver metal and chlorine gas.

2AgCl → 2Ag + Cl2

Similarly, when silver bromide is put under sunlight, it decomposes into silver metal and bromine gas.

2AgBr → 2Ag + Br2

Photographic paper has coating of silver chloride, which turns into grey when exposed to sunlight. It happens because silver chloride is colourless while silver is a grey metal. In this era of digital cameras, many of you may not be aware about photographic film. Now-a-days, such films are used for taking X-ray of internal organs.