A Little “Chemical Romance”

By Modupe Alabi

April 3, 2009

Ms. Campbell

Chemical Reactions as Related to High School Drama

Today, we’ll learn about chemical reactions. Why do they matter? In case you didn’t understand it from the textbook, think of a chemical reaction as a high school couple.

Observe…

Single DisplacementIn this, one element replaces another in a compound. Two reactants yield two products. Like when zinc combines with hydrochloric acid, the zinc replaces hydrogen. The chemical equation for this single replacement reaction looks like:

So let’s pretend that Zn is a girl who has a crush on Cl. She also hates his girlfriend H. So she figures she’d make a better girlfriend for Cl and convinces him to replace H with herself, Zn.

Get it? Good. Next…

SynthesisIn this type of reaction, two elements combine to form a compound. Two reactants

yield one product. Like simple hydrogen gas combined with simple oxygen gas produces water.

So let’s pretend that H2 and O really like each other. So they decide to become a couple. Now they’re so happy together!

Get it? Awesome. Next…

+ =

Double DisplacementIn this reaction, parts of two compounds switch places to form two new

compounds. Two reactants yield two products. Like when silver nitrate combines with sodium chloride, the two new compounds silver chloride and sodium nitrate are formed because the sodium and silver switched places.

So remember that old ex-girlfriend? Yeah. She’s angry that she got dumped for another girl so she tells her ex (Ag) that karma’s going to get him. Instantly. Later, his new girlfriend (NO4) dumps him for another dude (Na), and he ends up with this other dude’s ex (Cl)even though he doesn’t really like her. So they all got switched…that’s instant karma for you.

Good ? Great. Let’s move on…

DecompositionIn this, a compound breaks down into its make up elements. One reactant

yields 2 or more products. Basically, synthesis and decomposition reactions are opposites. This is like when water can be broken down into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

So this other couple (2H2O)…They thought they were high school sweethearts, but by the second semester of senior year they stopped liking each other, well she (SH2) stopped liking him (O) because he was annoying. She realized it was time for a breakup. So she decided to break away.

Good? That rocks.

EndothermicAn endothermic reaction is any chemical reaction that absorbs heat from

its environment. This is like photosynthesis (chlorophyll is used to react carbon dioxide plus water plus energy to make glucose and oxygen)

6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6+ 6O2

So basically, this new girl just realized how fast she’s been replaced, and so does the other dude. It’s building up inside them because they are taking in all this energy…sucking out all the heat from their surroundings. That’s why endothermic reactions drop the temperature

Good? But it’s not over…

Combustion (Exothermic)

A combustion reaction is a chemical reaction that involves oxygen and produces energy (heat) so rapidly that a flame results. This reaction occurs between certain compounds, especially organic compounds, oxygen, and hydrocarbons, which are carbon and hydrogen attached. The products of this reaction include carbon dioxide and water.

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

So basically, this new couple is really angry. So they go over to the new couple that’s all happy, and make them angry. They all get so angry that they blowup at each other, and scream!

Understand? Awesomeness! Let’s move on.

Songs

• 1. My Chemical Romance- Teenagers

• 2. Avril Lavigne- Girlfriends

• 3. Simple Plan- So Happy Together

• 4.Tokio Hotel – Instant Karma

• 5. Tokio Hotel- Break Away

• 6. Tokio Hotel- Scream

References

• http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/CURR/Science/sciber00/8th/matter/sciber/chemtype.htm

• http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/stwbwk05/05flashchem/lyreaction/lyreaction.html

• http://chemistry.about.com/od/lecturenotesl3/a/endorxns.htm

• http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookPS.html

Hope You Learned Something!