Types of Chemical Reaction
Identify and describe four types of chemical reaction: combustion (burning in oxygen), oxidation (gain of oxygen), thermal decomposition (breaking down by heat), and displacement (more reactive metal replaces less reactive one)
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“If your child saw iron going rusty and a candle burning, could they explain what type of chemical reaction is happening in each case — and write a simple word equation for one of them?”
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- Activity. Identify and describe four types of chemical reaction: combustion (burning in oxygen), oxidation (gain of oxygen), thermal decomposition (breaking down by heat), and displacement (more reactive metal replaces less reactive one)
What to notice. Writes a word equation for each type of reaction with an example • Identifies the type of reaction from a given word equation or description • Explains what makes a displacement reaction happen (relative reactivity) • Distinguishes complete combustion (CO₂ and H₂O) from incomplete combustion (CO and soot)
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If your child saw iron going rusty and a candle burning, could they explain what type of chemical reaction is happening in each case — and write a simple word equation for one of them?
Identify and describe four types of chemical reaction: combustion (burning in oxygen), oxidation (gain of oxygen), thermal decomposition (breaking down by heat), and displacement (more reactive metal replaces less reactive one)
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Check understanding
- Writes a word equation for each type of reaction with an example
- Identifies the type of reaction from a given word equation or description
- Explains what makes a displacement reaction happen (relative reactivity)
- Distinguishes complete combustion (CO₂ and H₂O) from incomplete combustion (CO and soot)
“If your child saw iron going rusty and a candle burning, could they explain what type of chemical reaction is happening in each case — and write a simple word equation for one of them?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Matter & Materials
- Age range
- Ages 12–13
Standards