Types of Chemical Reactions

Core concept

Decomposition reactions can be thermal (using heat, like heating calcium carbonate to form lime), photolytic (using light, like silver chloride decomposing in sunlight), or electrolytic (using electricity, like electrolysis of water). Displacement reactions follow the reactivity series — a more reactive metal like zinc will displace a less reactive metal like copper from copper sulphate solution. Double displacement reactions, like the reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride to form a precipitate of silver chloride, are often identified by the formation of an insoluble precipitate.