I am learning how to write balanced chemical equations.  I have mastered the art of balancing and writing equations.  I experience no difficulty writing them out from word equations (and vice versa)    

I also know how to balance and write redox and half ionic/ionic equations.

However Im having trouble when given the task of writing chemical equations when NO PRODUCTS are given to me.  I can't seem to work out what is produced.  I am fine when asked to write equations when the reactants and products are stated.

Are their rules about what is produced?

My tutor gave me general rules as follows:
1) Acid + Reactive Metal = Salt + H20
2) Acid + Base = Salt + H20
3) Acid + Metal Carbonate + Salt + H20 +CO2

But they don't help me with other problems such as:
1)SiCl4 + H20 = ??

2)Ca(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl = CaCl2 + 2NH4(OH) (is this rite, cus im guessing)

Please help as it is really holding me back!

 

1) Acid + Reactive Metal = Salt + H20

Above is a ore serious mistake - hydrogen should be instead of water

2)Ca(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl = CaCl2 + 2NH4(OH)

Ca(OH)2 is poorly soluble in water, but this is a strong base, ammonia is a weak base, hence reaction proceeds, even quantitatively, when solution is warmed to remove ammonia. This is an ammonia regeneration process in Na2CO3 production by a Solvay method.