Language of Chemistry

Points to Remember :

1. A chemical reaction involves the transformation of original substance into an

altogether new substance(s).
2. A chemical reaction can be represented with the help of the symbols or the
formulae of the elements and the compounds taking part in that reaction. This
gives a chemical equation.
3. Certain necessary conditions for a chemical reaction to happen are close contact,
solution form, heat, light and catalyst.
4. Characteristics of chemical reactions are change of colour, evolution of a gas,
formation of a precipitate, change of state, change of smell and
evolution/absorption of heat.
5. A complete chemical equation symbolically represents the reactants, products and
their physical states.
6. The substances that react with each other are called reactants and they are
represented on the left hand side of the equation. The substances that are formed
as a result of the reaction are called products. They are represented on the right
hand side of the equation.
7. A chemical equation needs to be balanced to make it follow the law of the
conservation of mass.
8. The law of conservation of mass states that mass can be neither created nor
destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another.
9. A chemical equation gives both qualitative and quantitative information about the
reactants and products.

EXERCISE

Question 1.
(a) Define chemical reaction.
(b) What is a chemical equation?
(c) Why do we need to balance chemical equations?
Answer:
(a) Chemical reaction : Any chemical change in matter which involves its
transformation into one or more new substances is called a chemical reaction.
(b) Chemical equation : A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a
chemical reaction using the symbols and the formula of the substances involved in the
reaction.
(c) A chemical equation needs to be balanced so as to make the number of the atoms
of the reactants equal to the number of the atoms of the products.
 Question 2.
State four conditions necessary for chemical reactions to take place.
Answer:
Conditions necessary for chemical reactions :

1. Close contact
2. Solution form
3. Heat
4. Light
5. Catalyst

3. Differentiate between :
(a) Reactants and products.

Reactants Products

1. The substances that react with one another are

1. The new substances formed are called products.
called reactants.
2. Products are written on the right hand side of
2. Reactants are written on the left hand side of
equation.
equation.

(b) Chemical reaction and chemical equation.

Chemical reaction Chemical Equation

Any chemical change in matter which involves its A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a

transformation into one or more new substances is called chemical reaction using the symbols and the formula of

a chemical reaction. the substances involved in the reaction.

(c) A balanced and a skeletal chemical equation.

Balanced Equation Skeletal Equation

A balanced chemical equation is one in which the number

In a skeletal equation the number of atoms on reactant
of atoms each element on the reactant side is equal to the
side are not equal to number of atoms of product side.
number of atoms of that element on the product side.

Question 4.
Write word equations for the following skeletal equations:
(a) KClO3 → KCl + O2
(b) Zn + HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
(c)FeCl2 + Cl2 → FeCl3
(d) CO + O2 → CO2
(e) Ca + O2 → CaO
(f) Na + O2 → Na2O
(g) NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + H2O
(h) AgBr → Ag + Br2
(i) KNO2 → KNO2 + O2

Answer:
(a) 2KClO3 → 2KCl+ 3O2
(b) Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
(c) 2FeCl2 + Cl2 → 2FeCl3
(d) 2CO + O2 → 2CO2
(e) 2Ca + O2 → 2CaO
(f) 4Na + O2 → 2Na2O
(g) 2NaOH + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + 2H2O
(h) 2AgBr → 2Ag + Br2
(i) 2KNO3 → 2KN02 + O2

Question 5.
Balance the following chemical equations :
(a) FeS + HCl → FeCl2 + H2S
(b) Na2CO3 + HCl → NaCI + H2O + CO2
(c) H2 + O2 → H2O
(d) Na20 + H20 → NaOH
Answer:
(a) FeS + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2S
(b) Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
(c) 2H2+ O2 → 2H2O
(d) Na2O + H2O → 2NaOH

Question 6.
What information do you get from the equation H2+ Cl2 → 2HCl ?
Answer:
(a)Hydrogen and chlorine molecules are the reactants.
(b)They are in gaseous form.
(c)The product is hydrogen chloride gas.
(d)Two molecules of hydrogen chloride are formed.

Question 7.
Write your observations for the following chemical reactions and name the products
formed :
(a) When sugar is heated.
(b) When manganese dioxide is added to potassium chlorate and heated.
(c) When dilute acetic acid is poured on baking soda.
(d) When an aqueous solution of sodium chloride is mixed with an aqueous solution of
silver nitrate.
(e) When ammonium chloride is heated with sodium hydroxide.
(f) When water is added to quick lime?

Answer:
(a) Black solid mass (charcoal) is formed along with water vapours.
(b) Manganese dioxide acts as a catalyst for the decomposition of potassium chlorate
into potassium chloride and oxygen at a lower temperature.
(c) Sodium acetate, CO2 and water is formed.
(d) A white insoluble solid precipitate of silver chloride is formed along with Sodium
nitrate.
(e) When solid ammonium chloride is heated with sodium hydroxide solution, a gas
ammonia is evolved which is recognised by its strong pungent smell.

(f) When water is added to quick lime, a large amount of heat energy is evolved.
Question 8.
Write symbolic representation for the following word equations and balance them :
(a) Calcium carbonate → Calcium oxide + Carbon dioxide
(b) Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide
(c) Calcium oxide + Water → Calcium hydroxide
(d) Aluminium + Chlorine → Aluminium chloride
(e) Iron + Sulphur → Iron sulphide

Answer:

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Fill in the blanks:

(a) The substances which undergo chemical change are called reactants.
(b) The substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction are called products.
(c) During a chemical reaction transfer of energy takes place.
(d) The basic conditions necessary for a chemical reaction is close contact.
(e) In some chemical reactions an insoluble precipitate is formed when two solutions
are mixed.

2. Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ for the following statements :

(a) No new substance is formed during a chemical reaction : True
(b) Hydrogen sulphide has rotten egg smell : True
(c) When potassium iodide solution is added to lead acetate solution a red precipitate is
formed : False
(d) A black residue is formed when sugar is heated : True
(e) When iron and sulphur are heated together a grey mass is formed which is attracted
by a magnet : False
(f) A chemical equation gives only qualitative information of a chemical reaction : False

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. A chemical equation is a statement that describes a chemical change in terms of

(a) symbols and formulae
(b) energy
(c) number of atoms
(d) colours

2. Balancing a chemical equation is based on

(a) Law of conservation of mass
(b) Mass of reactants and products
(c) Symbols and formulae
(d) None of the above

3. Copper carbonate when heated, it turns :

(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Black
(d) Yellow

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. (a) Define chemical reaction.

(b) What is a chemical equation?
(c) Why do we need to balance chemical equations?

Ans : (a)Chemical reaction : Any chemical change in matter which involves its
transformation into one or more new substances is called a chemical reaction.
(b)Chemical equation : A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a
chemical reaction using the symbols and the formula of the substances involved in the
reaction.
(c) A chemical equation needs to be balanced so as to make the number of the atoms
of the reactants equal to the number of the atoms of the products.

2. State four conditions necessary for a chemical reaction to take place.

Ans: Close contact— For a chemical reaction to take place the reactants should be
brought in close contact i.e., they should be mixed,
Solution form— Some substances react with eachother only when they are mixed in
the solution form, e.g.,

Heat— Some reactants need to be heated to undergo a chemical change, e.g.,

Light— Some reactions take place in the present of light.

3. Write balanced chemical equations for the reactions represented by word

equations in the conditions for chemical reaction.

Ans:

1. 2Na + H2O → 2NaOH + H2

2. AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3
3. 2KClO3 → 2KCl + 3O2
4. 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

4. Balance the following equations :

1. Fe + O2 → Fe3 O4
2. Fe + H2O → Fe3O4 + H2
3. N2 + O2 → NO
4. Pb3O4 → PbO + O2

Ans:

1. 3Fe + 2O2 → Fe3O4

2. 3 Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + 4H2
3. N2 + O2 → 2NO
4. 2Pb3O4 → 6PbO + O2
5. Balance the following equations. Also name the products formed. The first one
is done for you.
6. State what you would observe when the following substances are heated in a
glass test tube: 1. Red lead
2. Copper (II) carbonate Red lead

Ans:

1. 2Pb3O4 → 6PbO + O2 ↑
The dark red lead as red powder changes to yellow colour. The yellow colour
residue on further heating sticks to the tube and give reddish colour to glass. A
colourless and odourless gas is evolved.
2. CuCO3 → CuO + CO2 ↑
The blue-green powder turns black and a colourless gas is evolved which
extinguishes a burning flame.

7. Explain the following reaction with one suitable example for each.
(a) Combination reactions
(b) Decomposition reaction
(c) Displacement reaction
(d)Double decomposition reaction

Ans: (a) Combination reactions : In this reaction two or more substances combine to
form a new substance, e.g. Burning of hydrogen in air.
(b) Decomposition reaction : In this reaction a substance breaks up on heating to
form two or more simpler substances, e.g. Electrolysis of water.
(c) Displacement reaction: In this reaction a more reactive element displaces a less
reactive element from its compound, e.g. Reaction of iron with copper sulphate.
(d)Double decomposition reaction : In this reaction two compounds in solution state
react with each other to form two new substances by exchanging their radicals, e.g.
Reaction of sodium hydroxide with dilute hydrochloric acid.

8. Name the type of chemical reaction shown by the following equations:

(a) CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

(b) 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

(c) Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu
(d) NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
(e) Fe2O3 + 2Al → Al2O3 + 2Fe

Ans: (a) CaCO3 → CaO + CO2 => Decomposition reaction

(b) 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO => Combination reaction
(c) Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu => Displacement reaction
(d) NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O => Double decomposition reaction
(e) Fe2O3 + 2Al → Al2O3 + 2Fe => Displacement reaction
9. Write your observations and name the products when
(a) Zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.
(b) ron nails are added to an aqueous solution of copper sulphate.
(c) An aqueous solution of barium chloride is added to dilute sulphuric acid.

Ans : (a) When zinc pieces are added to hydrochloric acid, zinc displaces hydrogen. As
a result, zinc chloride and hydrogen gas are produced.
(b) When iron pieces are added to an aqueous solution of copper sulphate iron being
more reactive displaces copper from copper sulphate solution to produce ferrous
sulphate.
(c) An aqueous solution of barium chloride when mixed with dilute sulphuric acid
produces a white insoluble solid barium sulphate and hydrochloric acid.

10. A solution of a substance ‘X’ is used for white washing.

(a) Name the substance ‘X’ and write its formula.
(b) Write the reaction of the substance ‘X’ named in (a) above with water.

Ans :