Chemical Reactions and Equations

Q 1. Define chemical reaction.

A1. Chemical reaction is the process in which new substances are formed with new properties. The
substances which take part in a chemical reaction are called reactants. The substances produced as a
result of the reaction are called products.

2H2 + O2 → 2 H2O

Reactants Product

Q 2. What is a chemical equation?

A 2. A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction.

2H2 + O2 → 2 H2O

Q 3. What are the important characteristics of chemical reactions? Mention with examples.

A 3. The following are the important characteristics of chemical reactions:

i) Evolution of a gas:

Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) +H2(g)

ii) Formation of a precipitate:

BaCl 2(aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4(s) + 2NaCl (aq)

iii) Change in colour:

a) Chemical reaction between sulphur dioxide and acidified potassium dichromate is

characterized by the change in colour from orange to green.

K2Cr2O7 + H2SO4 + 3SO2 → Cr2 (SO4)3 + K2SO4 + H2O

(orange) (green)

b) Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu
(blue) (green)

iv) Change in temperature:

a) Exothermic reaction: A chemical reaction which heat is evolved is called an exothermic

reaction.
 CH4(g) + O2(g) →CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) + heat

b) Endothermic reaction : A chemical reaction in which heat is absorbed is called an

endothermic reaction.
Heat
CaCO3(s) → →→ CaO (s) + CO2(g)
(limestone) (quicklime)

v) Change in state:
A chemical reaction in which there is a change in state when reactants form the products.

2H2 (g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

Q 4. What is a balanced chemical equation?

A 4. A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms of different elements in

reactants and products.

Q 5. What is an unbalanced chemical equation?

A 5. An unbalanced chemical equation has unequal number of atoms of different elements in

reactants and products. This is also called a skeletal equation.

H2 (g) + O2(g) → H2O (l)

Q 6. Why is balancing of a chemical reaction necessary?

A 6. According to the Law of Conservation of Mass, the total mass of elements present in the
reactants is equal to the total mass of elements in the products. So, balancing of a chemical
reaction is necessary.

Q 7. Why do we need to rub a magnesium ribbon before burning it?

A 7. The magnesium ribbon has a coating of basic magnesium carbonate which is formed by the
action of moist air on it. Basic Magnesium carbonate is a mixture of Magnesium hydroxide and
Magnesium carbonate. In order to remove this protective layer, it is necessary to rub the
Magnesium ribbon with sand paper before burning. This helps it to combine readily with oxygen
in the air.

Q 8. What is meant by a Combination Reaction?

A 8. A reaction in which two or more reactants combine together to form a single product is
called a Combination Reaction.

Eg; (a) C (s) + O2 (g) →CO2(g)

(b) 2H2 (g) + O2(g) → 2H2O (l)

(c) CaO (s) + H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq) + heat

(slaked lime)

Q 9. What is meant by a decomposition reaction?

A 9. A chemical reaction in which a compound breaks down into two or more simpler
compounds is known as a decomposition reaction.

i) Thermal Decomposition: When decomposition is carried out by heating, it is called thermal

decomposition.

Eg:
heat
(a) CaCO3(s) →CaO(s) + CO2(g)
(limestone) (quicklime)

(b) heat
2 FeSO4 (s) →Fe2O3 (s) + SO2(g) + SO3(g)

(c) heat
2 KClO3 (s) ---------→ 2KCl (s) + 3O2 (g)

(d) heat
2 Pb(NO3)2--------→2 PbO (s) + 4 NO2 (g) + O2 (g)

ii) Photolysis/Photochemical Decomposition: Decomposition which takes place in the presence of

light energy is called Photolysis/Photochemical Decomposition.

Eg;
sunlight
(a) 2AgCl (s) --------→ 2Ag(s) + Cl 2 (g)
sunlight
(b) 2AgBr (s) --------→ 2Ag(s) + Br 2 (g)
 iii) Electrolytic Decomposition/ Electrolysis: When a decomposition reaction takes place in the
presence of electricity it is called electrolysis.

Eg:

electricity

2 H2O (l) ---------------→ 2H2 (g) + O2 (g)

Q 10. What is the ratio of the gases produced on electrolysis of water?

A 10.

electricity

2 H2O (l) ------------→ 2H2 (g) + O2 (g)

The hydrogen gas produced due to electrolysis of water is double the volume of oxygen produced as can
be seen from the above reaction.

Q 11. What do you mean by a displacement reaction?

A 11. A reaction in which the more reactive metal displaces the less reactive metal from its salt solution
is called a displacement reaction.

a) Fe(s) + CuSO4 (aq)→ FeSO4 (aq)+ Cu (s)

b) Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq)→ ZnSO4 (aq)+ Zn (s)
c) Pb (s) + CuSO4 (aq)→ PbSO4 (aq)+ Cu (s)

Q 12. What do you mean by a double displacement reaction?

A 12. A reaction in which two compounds react by an exchange of ions to form two new compounds is
called a double displacement reaction.

a) BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2 NaCl (aq)

b) AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO3(aq)

d) CuSO4(aq) + H2S(g) → CuS (s) + H2SO4(aq)

e) Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI(aq) → PbI2(s) +2 KNO3(aq)

(yellow ppt)
Q 13. What is a precipitation reaction?

A 13. A reaction in which an insoluble solid called precipitate is formed out from the solution is called a
precipitation reaction.

Eg;
a) BaCl2(aq) + Na2SO4(aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2 NaCl (aq)

b) AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO3(aq)

f) CuSO4(aq) + H2S(g) → CuS (s) + H2SO4(aq)

g) Pb(NO3)2 (aq) + 2KI(aq) → PbI2(s) +2 KNO3(aq)

(yellow ppt)

Q 14. What is a redox reaction?

A 14. A reaction in which one reactant gets oxidized and another reactant gets reduced is called a redox
reaction. ‘Red’ stands for Reduction and ‘Ox’ stands for Oxidation.

Oxidation refers to the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen.

Reduction refers to the removal of oxygen or addition of hydrogen.

i) 2Cu + O2 → CuO
heat
CuO (s) + H2 (g) →Cu(s) + H2O(l)

CuO is reduced to Cu and H2 is oxidized to H2O

CuO is the Oxidizing agent and H2 is the Reducing agent

ii) ZnO(s) + C(s) → Zn (s) + CO (g)

ZnO is reduced to Zn and C is oxidized to CO
ZnO is the Oxidizing agent and C is the Reducing agent

iii)MnO2 (s) + HCl (aq) →MnCl2(s) 2H2O(l) + Cl2(g)

HCl is oxidized to Cl2
MnO2 is reduced MnCl2
Oxidizing agent- MnO2
Reducing agent- HCl
Q 15. What is meant by corrosion?

A 15. Corrosion is a process in which metals are eaten up gradually by the action of air or moisture or a
chemical such as an acid on their surface.

Eg;
i) During corrosion of iron, iron metal is oxidized by oxygen in the presence of moisture to form
hydrated iron(III) oxide called rust.
4Fe + 3O2 + 2x H2O → 2Fe2O3. x H2O
(rust)
Other examples of corrosion are black coating of silver sulphide on silver and green coating of basic
copper carbonate on copper.

Q 16. What is rancidity?

A 16. The condition produced by aerial oxidation of fats and oils in foods marked by unpleasant odour
and taste is called rancidity.

Q 17. How can we retard rancidity?

A 17. i) It can be reduced by adding anti-oxidants to food containing fats and oils.
Eg; BHA-Butylated Hydroxy Anisole, BHT- Butylated Hydroxy Toluene.
ii) By packaging food in air tight containers.
iii) By keeping food in the refrigerator.
iv) By packaging fat and oil containing food in nitrogen gas.

Q 18. Write some reactions which occur under special conditions.

A 18)
Heat, MnO2
i) 2KClO3 (s) → 2KCl (s)+ 3O2(g)
heat
ii) CaCO3(s) → CaO (s) + CO2(g)

Sunlight, chlorophyll
iii) 6CO2 (g) + 12 H2O (l) → C6H12O6 (aq) + 6O2 (g) + 6H2O (l)

ZnO + CrO3, 300 atm

iv) CO (g) + 2H2(g) → CH3OH(l)
(methanol)