[1]

CHAPTER 1

CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

Chemical reaction: The process in which new substances with new properties are
formed is called a chemical reaction. Chemical reactions are indicated by the
following observations,

➢ Change in state
➢ Change in colour
➢ Change in temperature
➢ Evolution of gas
➢ Formation of precipitate

Examples: activity 1.1-What happens when magnesium ribbon is burnt in air?

Magnesium ribbon burns with dazzling white flame and the substance formed is
magnesium oxide

2Mg +O2→2MgO

Activity 1.2 What happens when potassium iodide solution is added to lead nitrate
solution?

Lead nitrate reacts with potassium iodide to form lead iodide which is insoluble in
water and yellow in colour Pb [NO3]2 +2KI → PbI2 +2KNO3

Activity 1.3 What happens when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to zinc granules
taken in a conical flask?

Zinc metal reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form zinc chloride and hydrogen
gas. The conical flask becomes hot which shows that the reaction is exothermic
Zn+2HCl → ZnCl2 +H2

Balanced chemical equation: A chemical equation in which atoms of various

elements in the reactants and products are equal is called a balanced chemical
equation. A chemical equation should be balanced to satisfy the law of
conservation of mass which states that `mass can neither be created nor be
destroyed in a chemical reaction’. In other words, the number of atoms of each
element remains same before and after a chemical reaction.

Why should a magnesium ribbon be cleaned before burning in air?

Magnesium ribbon reacts with oxygen slowly to form magnesium oxide. This layer
prevents further reaction of magnesium with oxygen. Hence it should be cleaned
before burning.
 [2]

Types of chemical reactions

1. Combination reaction

A reaction in which a single product is formed from two or more reactants is called
a combination reaction. Examples C+O2 → CO2
2H2+O2→2H2O
CaO+H2O→Ca[OH]2
Exothermic reactions :Reactions in which heat is released along with the
formation of products are called exothermic reactions.

Eg. CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

CaO + H2O→ Ca(OH)2
C6H12O6 + 6O2→ 6CO2+ 6H2O + energy

2. Decomposition reaction

A reaction in which a single compound breaks down to produce two or more

simpler substances is called a decomposition reaction. It is opposite to combination
reaction. This reaction requires energy either in the form of heat, light or
electricity. So, it is called endothermic reaction. There are 3 types of reactions are
there.

1. Thermal decomposition: Decomposition reaction is carried out by heat.

Eg . 2FeSO4 -------------- → Fe2O3+SO2+SO3 In this reaction ferrous

sulphate crystals (FeSO4..7H2O) lose water when heated and the colour of the
crystals changes. It then decomposes to ferric oxide , sulphur dioxide and sulphur
trioxide.

CaCO3 → CaO +CO2. CaO is called quicklime. It is used in the

manufacturing of cement.

2 Pb(NO3)2 → 2PbO + 4NO2 + O2

(colourless) (yellow) (brown)

2. Electrolysis- Decomposition reaction is carried out by electricity.

Eg. When electric current is passed through acidic water , it decomposes to

hydrogen and oxygen.

2 H2O (l) →2H2(g) +O2(g). During electrolysis hydrogen gas is collected at

cathode and oxygen is collected at anode.
 [3]

3 Decomposition by sunlight (photochemical decomposition reaction)

Eg. 2AgCl(s) → 2Ag(s) +Cl2(g)

(white) (grey)
The white color of silver chloride changes to grey due to the formation of silver
metal.

2AgBr → 2Ag +Br2

Endothermic reactions: Chemical reaction in which energy is absorbed is called

endothermic reaction.

3. Displacement reaction

A chemical reaction in which a more reactive element displaces a less reactive

element from a compound is called a displacement reaction.

Eg. Fe (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → FeSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

( blue) (green)

Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq ) → ZnSO4 (aq) +Cu (s)

( blue) (colourless )

Pb (s) + CuCl2 (aq) → PbCl2 (aq) + Cu (s)

(green) (colorless)

4. Double displacement reaction

A chemical reaction in which there is an exchange of ions between the reactants

are called double displacement reaction.

Eg. BaCl2 + Na2SO4 → BaSO4 + NaCl

Pb(N03)2 +2KI →PbI2 + 2KNO3

Oxidation
A chemical process in which a substance gains oxygen or loses hydrogen is called
oxidation reaction.

heat
2 Cu + O2 → 2CuO

Cu is oxidised to CuO.

Reduction
A chemical process in which a substance loses oxygen or gains hydrogen is called
a reduction reaction.
 [4]

CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
CuO loses oxygen, CuO is reduced to Cu.

Redox reaction
In a chemical reaction if one reactant gets oxidized while other gets reduced , then
that reaction is called a redox reaction.
Reduction: removal of oxygen

CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
---------------------------------
Oxidation: addition of oxygen

Reduction: removal of oxygen

----------------------------------------------
MnO2 + 4HCl → MnCl2 + 2H2O + Cl2
-------------------------------------------------------
Oxidation: removal of hydrogen

Oxidising agent
A substance which gives oxygen or a substance which removes hydrogen is called
an oxidising agent.

Reducing agent
A substance which gives hydrogen or removes oxygen is called a reducing agent.
CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
Substance oxidized: H2
Substance reduced: CuO
Oxidizing agent: CuO
Reducing agent: H2

Oxidation reactions in everyday life

Corrosion

When a metal is attacked by substances around it such as moisture, acids etc., it is

said to corrode and this process is called corrosion.
Black coating on silver, green coating on copper etc. are examples of corrosion.

Rancidity

Foods containing fats and oils when exposed to air gets oxidized due to which the
smell and taste changes. This process is called rancidity. It can be prevented by
adding antioxidants. It can also be prevented by flushing the food container by
nitrogen or by keeping the food in air tight containers and refrigerators.
 [5]

TEXT BOOK QUESTIONS

Page 10 (answers)

1) CaO, calcium oxide

CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2

2) Water contains two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen

2 H2O → 2H2 + O2
Therefore hydrogen and oxygen produced are in the ratio 2:1 by volume. Hence
volume of gas collected in one test tube is double than that of the other and the gas
is hydrogen.

Page 13

1) Iron displaces copper ions from copper sulphate solution. Therefore the colour of
copper sulphate solution fades. The reaction is CuSO4 + Fe →Cu +FeSO4
2) Pb(NO3)2 + 2KI → PbI2 +2KNO3
3) (i) Na is oxidised

(ii) CuO is reduced and H2 is oxidized.

PAGE 14

1) (I) a and b

2) (d) displacement reaction

3) (a)hydrogen gas and iron(II) chloride are produced

4) Refer page 1

9) Refer notes

10) During respiration glucose combines with oxygen in the cells of our body and
provides energy. Since energy is released in this process it is called an exothermic
reaction.

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O +ENERGY

11] In a combination reaction a single product is formed from two or more reactants.
Example C + O2 →CO2
But during decomposition a single substance breaks down into two or more
substances which is just the reverse of combination reaction. For example,
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
12] Refer decomposition reaction
 [6]

13] Refer notes

14] Cu (s) +2AgNO3 (aq)→ Cu(NO3)2(aq) +2Ag(s)

15] A reaction in which an insoluble substance(precipitate) is produced is called a

precipitation reaction.
Example Na2SO4 +BaCl2 →BaSO4 +2NaCl
AgNO3 + NaCl →AgCl +NaNO3

16] Refer notes

17] The element X is copper(Cu) and the black coloured compound is CuO.

18] Iron articles can be protected from rusting by applying paint on them so that the
iron surface does not come in contact with air and moisture which cause rusting.

19] This is because food items are prevented from oxidation by oxygen or
air(rancidity).

20] Refer notes.