CHRIST ACADEMY ICSE/ISC

Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai

Chemistry Textual Solution- Grade VIII
Chapter 5 – LANGUAGE OF CHEMISTRY

Question 1

Explain the term 'symbol'. State a reason why the symbol of calcium is 'Ca' & of
copper is 'Cu'.
Answer
Symbol — An atom of any element is denoted by a symbol. It is the short form
or abbreviated name of the element. It represents

• a specific element or one atom of an element. e.g. 'H' represents one atom
of the element hydrogen.
• the weight of the element equal to its atomic weight.
• distinguishes one element from another and is characteristic of that
element only.

The symbol 'Ca' for calcium is taken from the first two letters of its name
"Calcium" whereas the symbol 'Cu' for Copper is taken from the first two
letters of its Latin name "Cuprum".

Question 2

Define the term 'valency'. With reference to water & ammonia as compounds
respectively state the valency of oxygen & nitrogen. Magnesium [2, 8, 2] has
valency 2+. Give reasons.
Answer
Valency is the number of hydrogen atoms which can combine with [or
displace] one atom of the element [or radical] forming a compound.
In case of water, two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen.
Hence, valency of oxygen is 2.
In case of ammonia, three atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of
nitrogen. Hence, valency of nitrogen is 3.
Valency is also defined as the number of electrons an atom can donate or
accept so as to achieve stable electronic configuration of the nearest noble
gas. In case of magnesium [2, 8, 2], it donates two electrons to achieve a stable
electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas [Neon (2,8)], hence its
valency is 2+.

Question 3

Explain the term 'variable valency'. Copper having electronic configuration 2,

8, 18, 1 exhibit variable valency. Give a reason for the same & name the
compound CuCl & CuCl2.
Answer
Variable valency refers to the capacity of certain elements to have multiple
valencies or combining abilities. These elements can lose electrons beyond
their valence shell, including the penultimate shell. This characteristic allows
them to display variable valency.
The outermost shell of copper has 1 electron & the penultimate shell [last but
one] has 18 electrons. The penultimate shell has not attained stability & one
or more electrons sometimes jumps to the outermost shell. The valency
electron thus increases & Cu has new configuration: Cu = 29 [2, 8, 17, 2].
Therefore, copper exhibits: Cu1+ & Cu2+ valency.
The compound CuCl is Copper [I] Chloride or Cuprous Chloride &
CuCl2 Copper [II] Chloride or Cupric Chloride.
 Question 4

State the valencies of the following metallic elements –

S.
Element Symbol Valency
No.

(a) Potassium K1+ 1

(b) Sodium Na1+ 1

(c) Calcium Ca2+ 2

(d) Magnesium Mg2+ 2

(e) Zinc Zn2+ 2

(f) Aluminium Al3+ 3

(g Chromium Cr3+ 3

Question 5

Certain metals exhibit variable valencies which include valencies: 1+, 2+, 3+, &
4+. State the variable valency of the following metals –
 S.
Element Symbol Valency
No.

Cu1+ 1
(a) Copper
Cu2+ 2

Ag1+ 1
(b) Silver
Ag2+ 2

Hg1+ 1
(c) Mercury
Hg2+ 2

Fe2+ 2
(d) Iron
Fe3+ 3

Sn2+ 2
(e) Tin
Sn4+ 4

Pb2+ 2
(f) Lead
Pb4+ 4

Question 6

State which of the following ions or radicals given below of non-metallic

elements exhibit valency: 1-, 2- & 3-
 Valency Element/Radical Ion

Chloride Cl1-

Bromide Br1-

Iodide I1-

Nitrate NO31-

Hydroxide OH1-
1-
Bicarbonate HCO31-

Bisulphite HSO31-

Bisulphate HSO41-

Aluminate AlO21-

Permanganate MnO41-

Oxide O2-

Sulphide S2-

Sulphite SO32-
2-
Sulphate SO42-

Carbonate CO32-

Dichromate Cr2O72-
 Zincate ZnO22-

Plumbite PbO22-

Phosphate PO43-
3-
Nitride N3-

Question 7

Differentiate between the terms - 'Ion' & 'radical' with suitable examples.
Answer

Ion Radical

An ion is any atom or a group of

A radical is an atom or a group of atoms of the
atoms carrying a positive or negative
same or of different elements that behaves as a
charge due to loss or gain of
single unit with a positive or a negative charge.
electrons.

Positively charged ions are called Positively charged radicals are called basic
cations. For example, Sodium [Na1+] radicals. For example, Ammonium [NH41+]

Negatively charged ions are called Negatively charged radicals are called acidic
anions. For example, Chloride [Cl1-]. radicals. For example, Bicarbonate [HCO31-]

Question 8

Write the chemical formula of the following compounds in a step-by-step

manner.
(a) Potassium Chloride:

Potassium chloride Symbol Valency

Potassium K 1+

Chloride Cl 1−

Positive ion is written first

Interchange the valences

Formula = KCl

(b) Sodium Bromide:

Sodium bromide Symbol Valency

Sodium Na 1+

Bromide Br 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = NaBr

(c) Potassium Nitrate

Potassium nitrate Symbol Valency

 Potassium K 1+

NO
Nitrate 1−
3

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = KNO3

(d) Calcium hydroxide

Calcium hydroxide Symbol Valency

Calcium Ca 2+

Hydroxide OH 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Ca[OH]2

(e) Calcium bicarbonate

Calcium bicarbonate Symbol Valency

Calcium Ca 2+
 bicarbonate HCO3 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula= Ca(HCO3)2

(f) Sodium Bisulphate

Sodium bisulphate Symbol valency

Sodium Na 1+

Bisulphate HSO4 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = NaHSO4

(g) Potassium Sulphate

Potassium sulphate Symbol valency

Potassium K 1+

sulphate SO4 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = K2SO4

(h) Zinc Hydroxide

Zinc hydroxide Symbol valency

Zinc Zn 2+

Hydroxide OH 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Zn[OH]2

(i) Potassium permanganate

Potassium permanganate Symbol valency

Potassium K 1+

permanganate MnO4 1−

Positive ion is written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = KMnO4
(j) Potassium dichromate

Potassium dichromate Symbol Valency

Potassium K 1+

dichromate Cr2O7 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula= K2Cr2O7

(k) Aluminium hydroxide

Aluminium hydroxide Symbol Valency

Aluminium Al 3+

Hydroxide OH 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Al[OH]3

(l) Magnesium nitride

Magnesium nitride Symbol Valency

 Magnesium Mg 2+

Nitride N 3−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula =Mg3N2

(m) Sodium zincate

Sodium zincate Symbol Valency

Sodium Na 1+

Zincate ZnO2 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Na2[ZnO2]

(n) Copper [II] oxide

Copper [II] oxide Symbol Valency

Copper Cu 2+

Oxide O 2−
Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = CuO

(o) Copper [I] sulphide

Copper [I] sulphide Symbol Valency

Copper Cu 1+

sulphide S 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Cu2S

(p) Iron [III] chloride

Iron [III] chloride Symbol Valency

Iron Fe 3+

chloride Cl 1

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = FeCl3
(q) Iron [II] hydroxide

Iron [II] hydroxide Symbol Valency

Iron Fe 2+

hydroxide OH 1−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula =Fe[OH]2

(r) Iron [III] sulphide

Iron [III] sulphide Symbol Valency

Iron Fe 3+

sulphide S 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Fe2S3

(s) Iron [III] oxide

Iron [III] oxide Symbol Valency

 Iron Fe 3+

oxide O 2−

Positive ions are written first

On interchanging the valences

Formula = Fe2O3

Question 9

What is a chemical equation. How it is represented. Differentiate between a

'word equation' and a 'molecular equation' with a suitable example.
Answer
A chemical equation is a shorthand form for representing the result of a
chemical change.
It is represented with the help of formulas and symbols of the reactants and
products.

Word equation Molecular equation

Zinc + sulphuric acid ⟶ zinc sulphate + Hydrogen Zn + H2SO4 ⟶ ZnSO4 + H2

Question 10

State the information provided by a chemical equation. Chemical equations

suffer from a number of limitations. State the main limitations of a chemical
equation.
Answer
Information provided by a chemical equation:
 1. The formulas & symbols of the reactants & products.
2. The physical state of the substance whether it is solid, liquid or gas.
3. The special conditions required such as heat, catalyst, direction of
reaction.
4. Tells the ratio in which the substances react in a balanced equation.

Chemical equation do not tell us about:

1. The physical states of the reactants & products - hence [(s) for solids, (g)
for gas may be added]
2. The conditions such as temperature, pressure or catalyst which affect
the reaction.
3. The concentration of the reactants & products.
4. The nature of the chemical reaction.
5. The speed of the reaction.
6. The heat changes accompanying the reaction.
7. The completion of the reaction.

Question 11

State what is a balanced equation with a relevant example. Give a reason why
an equation is balanced with reference to the law of conservation of matter.
Answer
A balanced equation is one in which the number of atoms of each element of
the reactant is equal to the number of atoms of each element of the products.
Zn + H2SO4 ⟶ ZnSO4 + H2
An equation must be balanced to comply with the 'law of conservation of
matter' because according to this law: matter is neither created nor destroyed
during the chemical change.

Question 12

Write balanced molecular equations for the following word equations:

(a) Calcium + oxygen ⟶ Calcium oxide
(b) Calcium + water ⟶ Calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
(c) Zinc + sulphuric acid ⟶ Zinc sulphate + hydrogen
(d) Lead sulphate + ammonium hydroxide ⟶ Ammonium sulphate + lead
hydroxide
(e) Copper hydroxide + nitric acid ⟶ copper nitrate + water
(f) Lead nitrate + sodium chloride ⟶ sodium nitrate + lead chloride
Answer
(a) 2Ca + O2 ⟶ 2CaO
(b) Ca + 2H2O ⟶ Ca(OH)2 + H2
(c) Zn + H2SO4 ⟶ ZnSO4 + H2
(d) PbSO4 + 2NH4OH ⟶ (NH4)2SO4 + Pb(OH)2
(e) Cu(OH)2 + 2HNO3 ⟶ Cu(NO3)2 + 2H2O
(f) PbNO3 + NaCl ⟶ NaNO3 + PbCl

Question 13

Balance the following equations:

(a) P + O2 ⟶ P2O5

(b) Na2O + H2O ⟶ NaOH

(c) K + H2O ⟶ KOH + H2

(d) Fe + H2O ⇌ Fe3O4 + H2

(e) CaO + HCl ⟶ CaCl2 + H2O

(f) Fe + Cl2 + FeCl3

(g) Al + H2O ⟶ Al2O3 + H2

(h) Al + H2SO4 ⟶ Al2(SO4)3 + H2

(i) Fe2O3 + H2 ⟶ Fe + H2O

(j) C + H2SO4 ⟶ CO2 + H2O + SO2

(k) Pb3O4 ⟶ PbO + O2

(l) Al + O2 ⟶ Al2O3

(m) NO + O2 ⟶ NO2

(n) ZnS + O2 ⟶ ZnO + SO2

(o) Pb3O4 + HCl ⟶ PbCl2 + H2O + Cl2

(p) ZnO + NaOH ⟶ Na2ZnO2 + H2O

(q) H2S + Cl2 ⟶ S + HCl

(r) FeCl3 + NaOH ⟶ NaCl + Fe(OH)3

(s) Fe2O3 + CO ⟶ Fe + CO2

(t) KHCO3 ⟶ K2CO3 + H2O + CO2

(u) CuO + NH3 ⟶ Cu + H2O + N2

Answer
(a) 4P + 5O2 ⟶ 2P2O5
(b) Na2O + H2O ⟶ 2NaOH
(c) 2K + 2H2O ⟶ 2KOH + H2
(d) 3Fe + 4H2O ⇌ Fe3O4 + 4H2
(e) CaO + 2HCl ⟶ CaCl2 + H2O
(f) 2Fe + 3Cl2 + 2FeCl3
(g) 2Al + 3H2O ⟶ Al2O3 + 3H2
(h) 2Al + 3H2SO4 ⟶ Al2(SO4)3 + 3H2
(i) Fe2O3 + 3H2 ⟶ 2Fe + 3H2O
(j) C + 2H2SO4 ⟶ + CO2 + 2H2O + 2SO2
(k) 2Pb3O4 ⟶ 6PbO + O2
(l) 4Al + 3O2 ⟶ 2Al2O3
(m) 2NO + O2 ⟶ 2NO2
(n) 2ZnS + 3O2 ⟶ 2ZnO + 2SO2
(o) Pb3O4 + 8HCl ⟶ 3PbCl2 + 4H2O + Cl2
(p) ZnO + 2NaOH ⟶ Na2ZnO2 + H2O
(q) H2S + Cl2 ⟶ S + 2HCl
(r) FeCl3 + 3NaOH ⟶ 3NaCl + Fe(OH)3
(s) Fe2O3 + 3CO ⟶ 2Fe + 3CO2
(t) 2KHCO3 ⟶ K2CO3 + H2O + CO2
(u) 3CuO + 2NH3 ⟶ 3Cu + 3H2O + N2