Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set

of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous,
requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of
some type of energy, viz. heat, light or electricity. Chemical reactions involve the
motion of electrons in the forming and breaking of chemical bonds. The
substance (or substances) initially involved in a chemical reaction are called
reactants or reagents. Chemical reactions are usually characterized by a chemical
change, and they yield one or more products, which usually have properties
different from the reactants. Law of conservation of mass is applicable for all
chemical reactions. Only exchange of electron takes place and bonds are formed
but total number of electrons always remains same in chemical reactions. Also in
chemical reactions there is no change in nucleus of any atoms. Only arrangement
of atoms can change to give different compounds.

In many of the chemical reactions heat is given out. Such reactions are
called ‘exothermic’ reactions. In some reactions heat is absorbed called
‘endothermic’ reactions.

In chemical reactions old bonds break and new bonds are formed this leads
to new arrangement of atoms. Hence to start a reaction some initial energy is
required. For example, coal does not start burning unless it is heated to its
ignition point.

Fast reactions – they require very small time for completion of the reaction.
Example – burning of coal, explosion of gun powder, neutralization reaction of
acid and alkalis.

Slow reactions – they take a long time for completion. Example - decaying
of vegetables, respiration, formation of curds, rusting of iron.

Reversible chemical reactions - A reversible reaction is a chemical reaction

that results in an equilibrium mixture of reactants and products.
Combination reaction –

1. Two or more reactants combine together to form single product.

2. General equation A + B → AB
3. examples -
Type Example

Carbon completely burnt in oxygen yields

a) Between two elements C + O2 → CO2
carbon dioxide

b) Between two Calcium oxide (lime) combined with water

CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2
compounds gives calcium hydroxide (slaked lime)

Oxygen (an element) combined with

c) Between an element and
O + H2O → H2O2 water (a compound) yields hydrogen
a compound
peroxide

Decomposition reaction

1. A compound splits into two or more substances

2. General equation AB → A + B
3. Thermal decomposition – decomposition due to heat
4. electrolytic decomposition – decomposition due to electrical energy
5. Digestion is example of decomposition reaction. A complex substance like
starch is broken down into sugars. Proteins into amino acids.
6. Eg - calcium carbonate on heating splits into calcium oxide and
carbondioxide
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2 ↑

7. Potassium chlorate when strongly heated decomposes into potassium

chloride and oxygen gas.
2KClO3 → 2KCl + 2 O2↑
Displacement reaction

1. Atom or a group of atom of a compound is replaced by some other group

2. General equation – A + BC → AC + B
3. If iron nail is put into copper sulphate solution, ferrous sulphate is fromed
and copper is deposited on the iron nail. (Znic pieces dropped into copper
sulphate solution also can displace copper and form zinc sulphate solution.)
Fe + CuSO4 → Cu + FeSO4 Zn + CuSO4 → Cu + ZnSO4

Double decomposition reaction –

1. Constituents of two compounds mutually exchange their positions forming

two new compounds.
2. General equation – AB + CD → AD + CB
3. Potassium iodide added to lead nitrate solution, forms yellow precipitate of
lead iodide and a solution of potassium nitrate.
Pb(NO3)2 + KI → 2KNO3 + PbI2 (lead iodide yellow ppt)

4. Silver nitrate and salt reacts to form white precipitate of silver chloride and
a solution of sodium nitrate.
NaCl + AgNO3 → NaNO3 + AgCl

5. Sodium hydroxide solution and coppersulphate solution reacts to form

sodium sulphate solution and bluish white ppt of copper hydroxide.
2Na(OH) + CuSO4 → Na2SO4 + Cu(OH)2 (bluish white ppt)

Homogenous reaction – in these reactions reactants and products are in same

physical state. examples –

1. H2 (g)+ Cl2 (g)→ 2HCl (g)

2. NaOH (aq)+ HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2O (all are aqueous)

Heterogeneous reactions – in these reactions reactants and products are in

different states or they are completely immiscible. Example –
 1. Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g) ↑

Rate of a chemical reaction –

The rate of a chemical reaction means how fast of slow a reaction happens.
It can also be found as change in concentration of reactants or products in unite
time

Factors affecting rate of reactions

1. Nature of reactants – speed of reaction depends on the substances which

are reacting. Some reactants reacts fast, some slow. For example, acidified
potassium permanganate reacts instantly with ferrous sulphate. But it
reacts slowly with oxalic acid.
2. Size of particles- In solids reaction can happen only on expose surfaces. If
the particles of reactants are smaller, they have more surface area and
hence reaction is faster.
3. Concentrations – reactant atoms physically come close together and form /
break the bonds. If concentration is more there is more chance of collisions
of reactants hence reaction is faster. In liquids concentration is measured
as moles per litter. For gases it is measured in terms of pressure
4. Temperature – As temperature is more kinetic energy of molecules is more.
Hence more are the chances of collisions between the reactants. Hence a
rise in temperature increases the rate of the reaction. Generally rise of 10
0
C doubles or triples the rate of reaction.
5. Catalysts – Presence of some substance affect the rate of some reactions.
Such substances are called catalysts. A catalyst does not take part in
chemical reaction. Only its presence affects the speed of reaction. Example
– if zinc pieces when put into dilute sulfuric acid hydrogen gas is released. If
some drops of coppersulphate are added to sulfuric acid and then zinc
pieces are put, hydrogen gas is released vigorously. In this reaction copper
ions acts as catalyst. Catalysts are very useful industrially as they save time
and money.
Various catalysts and their uses-
 Potassium chlorate if heated to sufficiently high temperature oxygen is
librated. Manganese dioxide is added to it as a catalyst. Due to its presence
oxygen is librated at much lower temperature and the rate of reaction increases.
in
This is used to prepare of oxygen in laboratory.

In bakery for preparation of bread yeast is used. It produces an enzyme

called zymase. This acts as bio
bio-catalyst
catalyst and helps in fermentation process. This
liberates carbon dioxide which makes bread porous and light.

Catalyst In preparing From

Finely divided platinum Sulphur trioxide and Sulphur dioxide

(platinised asbestos) sulphuric acid

Plainised gauze Nitric acid Ammonia

Finely divided nickel Hydrogenation of oil, dalda Vegetable oils

Finely divided iron Ammonia In Haber’s process

Iodine Red phosphorus Yellow phosphorus

Yeast Rising the bread Through fermentation of

dough

Enzymes Detergent powders Soda and chemicals

Vanadium pentaoxide SO3 SO2

Redox reaction- redox reaction is any rreaction

eaction in which oxidation state of the
atoms changes. Simple example of redox reaction is burning of carbon.

C + O2 → CO2↑ Here in elemental form both C and O have oxida on state zero.
After the reaction O has oxidation state -
2 while C has + 4.

Another example is reaction between

carbondioxide and hydrogen gas as
shown.

Redox contains two terms reduction and oxidation.

1. Oxidation is the loss of electrons

or an increase in oxidation state by
a molecule, atom, or ion. Metals
are oxidized. (it can be considered
as addition of oxygen or removal
of hydrogen from a compound)
2. Reduction is the gain of electrons
or a decrease in oxidation state by
a molecule, atom, or ion. Non
metals are reduced. (it can be
considered as removal of oxygen or addition of h
hydrogen)

Oxidizing agents – the substances that brings oxidation to a given substance is

called oxidizing agent. Example Cl, F. It accepts electrons. And itself gets reduced.

Reducing agents – the substance that brings reduction to a given substance. It

donates electrons and itself gets oxidized. Metals are reducing agents.

Reactions in which oxidation state of any elements does not change is a not a
redox reaction. For example
example-

AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3

Ag and Na are both in +1 oxidation state before and after the reaction. Hence this
is not a redox reaction.