What are double decomposition reactions?

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What are double decomposition reactions?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-15T12:29:03

A double decomposition reaction is a reaction in which the positive ions and negative ions in two compounds switch partners to form two new compounds.

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The equation is often written in the general form

$AB + CD \to CB + AD$ $"AB + CD" → "CB + AD"$

The older term double decomposition has been largely replaced by the terms double displacement, double replacement, and metathesis.

Many double decomposition reactions are precipitation reactions.

$Ag {NO}_{3} (aq) + Na Cl (aq) \to Ag Cl (s) + Na {NO}_{3} (aq)$ $color(blue)("Ag")color(red)("NO"_3)"(aq)" + color(orange)("Na") color(green)("Cl")"(aq)" → color(blue)("Ag") color(teal)("Cl")"(s)" + color(orange)("Na") color(red)("NO"_3)"(aq)"$

Others are acid-base neutralization reactions.

$H Cl (aq) + Na OH (aq) \to Na Cl (aq) + H OH (l)$ $color(blue)("H")color(red)("Cl")"(aq)" + color(orange)("Na") color(green)("OH")"(aq)"→ color(orange)("Na")color(red)("Cl")"(aq)" + color(blue)("H") color(green)("OH")"(l)"$

Here is a good video on double replacement reactions.

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What are double decomposition reactions?

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