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Stoichiometry & Chemical Reactions

Combination Reaction

A reaction in which two or more substances unite to form a single product.

Formula / equation A + B → AB
Unit Dimensionless

In depth

Also called synthesis or direct combination, these reactions are usually exothermic because bonds are formed without any being broken in a complex framework. They may join two elements, an element and a compound, or two compounds, and they are the simplest route to binary compounds.

Examples in the real world

2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO; CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ releasing enough heat to boil water.