Character Introduction:

Mrs. Betty- Teacher

Billy- student with gray hat

Shannon- student with blue shirt

Marc- student with curly black hair

Setting:

Middle school students are in their chemistry class learning about the five chemical reactions.

Okay class, today we are going to discuss the five chemical reactions! Can someone explain to me what a synthesis reaction is?

Billy raises his hand and Mrs. Betty calls on him.

A synthesis reaction is when two or more substances come together and make a compound. They are set up in A+B=AB format.

Synthesis Reaction: A+B=AB

Mrs. Betty writes on the chalkboard and presents a powerpoint of examples.

Great job, Billy! Synthesis reactions occur around you everyday. For example, iron and oxygen combine to make iron oxide which is also called rust.

Now let's take a look at our second reaction: decomposition! A decomposition reaction is when one compound makes two or more substances. These are set up in AB=A+B format.

Decomposition Reaction: AB=A+B

An everyday example of a decomposition reaction is when airbags blow up after a car accident. The decomposition of sodium azide into nitrogen gas and sodium create this reaction.

Moving on to our third reaction: single replacement! This occurs when an element replaces another element in a compound. These are set up in A+BC=B+AC format.

Single Replacement Reaction

An example of a single replacement reaction is when zinc gives up two electrons and copper gains two electrons which creates power from batteries.

Our fourth reaction is a double replacement reaction. Two compounds react together by the positive and negative ions switching places. This creates two new compounds. These are set up in AB+CD=CB+AD format.