Chemical Reactions and Equations

What is a chemical reaction?

A process in which some substances reacts and produces new substances with different nature and identity is
called chemical reaction.

Examples from daily life are

1. Conversion of milk into curd
2. Rusting of iron
3. Fermentation of grapes
4. Cooking of food
5. Digestion of food
6. Respiration
Some more examples from chemistry lab:-
1. Burning of magnesium with a dazzling white flame to form a white powder. This powder is
magnesium oxide.

2. Reaction between zinc granules and dilute hydrochloric acid

3. Mixing of lead nitrate solution to potassium iodide solution to give yellow coloured insoluble substance

A chemical reaction may take place

with:-
 Change in physical state
 Change in colour
 Evolution of a gas
 Change in temperature
 WRITING OF A CHEMICAL REACTION
Sentence form of a chemical reaction:- The description of a chemical reaction in a sentence. Eg.
1. When a magnesium ribbon is burnt in oxygen, it gets converted to magnesium oxide.
2. Solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulphate in water react to give insoluble barium sulphate and the
solution of sodium chloride.
Word-equation:
3. Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide
4. Barium chloride + sodium sulphate → Barium sulphate + Sodium chloride
Chemical equation:- Symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in terms of symbols or/ and formulae of
reactants and products. Eg.
1. Mg + O2 → MgO
2. BaCl2 + Na2SO4 → BaSO4 + NaCl
Above representations are called skeletal chemical equation as number of atoms of each element on both
the sides is not same.
Reactants:-The substances that undergo chemical change in the reaction. e.g. in first reaction magnesium and
oxygen, are the reactants.
Products:-The new substance,formed during the reaction, is the product. E.g in first reaction magnesium oxide,
According to law of conservation of mass; mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a
chemical reaction.

That is, the total mass of the elements present in the products of a chemical reaction
has to be equal to the total mass of the elements present in the reactants.

In other words, the number of atoms of each element remains the same, before and after a
chemical reaction. Hence, we need to balance a skeletal chemical equation.

Balanced chemical equation:- If number of atoms of each element is same on both sides of
equation , it is called balanced chemical equation. Eg.
1. 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
2. BaCl2 + Na2SO4 → BaSO4 + 2NaCl
BALANCING OF A CHEMICAL EQUATION:- By hit-and-trial method- in this method atoms of each
element are counted in both sides and try to equalize them. Eg.
Fe + H 2O → Fe3O4 + H2
Step 1: First draw boxes around each formula. Do not change anything inside the boxes.

Step 2: List the number of atoms of different elements

Step 3: In general, Balance the compound that contains the maximum number of atoms. In that compound
balance the element which has the maximum number of atoms. In this example first balance the O in Fe 3O4.

Step 4: Now balance H atom:

Step 5: Finally balance Fe:

Step 6: Balanced equation is-

3Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + 4H2
 SOLVED EXAMPLES

1. Translate the following statements into chemical equations and then balance them.
(a) Hydrogen gas combines with nitrogen to form ammonia.
Answer: - 3H2 + N2 → 2NH3

(b)Hydrogen sulphide gas burns in air to give water and sulphur dioxide.

Answer:- 2H2S + 3O2 → 2 H2O + 2SO2

2. Write the balanced chemical equations for the following reactions.

(a)Zinc + Silver nitrate → Zinc nitrate + Silver

Answer: - Zn + 2AgNO3 → Zn(NO3)2 + 2Ag

(b)Aluminium + Copper chloride → Aluminium chloride + Copper

Answer:- 2Al + 3CuCl2 → 2AlCl3 + 3 Cu

 PRACTICE TIME: -

1. Translate the following statements into chemical equations and then balance them.
(a)Barium chloride reacts with aluminium sulphate to give aluminium chloride and a precipitate of
barium sulphate.

(b) Potassium metal reacts with water to give potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

(c)Zinc granules reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce zinc chloride solution and hydrogen gas.
(d) Barium hydroxide reacts with ammonium chloride to produce barium chloride and ammonium
hydroxide
 Significance or Implications of a balanced chemical equation:-
Example:-
It tells about-
1. Name of reactants and products, 1. Hydrogen and Oxygen reacts to give water

2. are composed of 2 atoms of H & O respectively and

2. Composition of each reactant and product,
water is composed of 2 atoms of H and 1 atom of
O
3. Relative masses of reactants and products, 3. 4 g of react with 32 g of to produce 36 g of water.
4. 2 moles of react with 1 mole of to give 2 moles of
4. Relative numbers of moles of reactants and products, water.
5. 2 molecules of react with 1 molecule of to give 2
5. Relative numbers of atoms/ molecules, molecule of water.

6. At STP 2x 22.7 =45.4 L of reacts with 22.7 L of

6. Relative volumes of gaseous reactants and products.
Balanced chemical equation can be made more informative by writing-
1. ‘s’ for solids, ‘l’ for liquids, ‘g’ for gas and ‘aq’ for aqueous.
2. Reactions conditions above and below the arrow mark.
3. “+E” or “+ Heat” or “+ Energy” on product side to indicate heat is evolved and “–E” or
“– Heat” or “– Energy” on product side to indicate heat is absorbed.
For example-
1. 3Fe (s) + 4H2O(g) → Fe3O4 (s) + 4H2(g)

340 atm
2. CO(g) + 2H2(g) ――――――→ CH3OH(l)

sunlight
3. 6CO2(aq) + 6H2O(l) ――――――→ C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(aq)
Chlorophyll
4. C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(aq)  6CO2(aq) + 6H2O(l) + energy
Write a balanced chemical equation with state symbols for the following reactions.

(a) Solutions of barium chloride and sodium sulphate in water react to give insoluble barium
sulphate and the solution of sodium chloride.
Ans:-

(b) Sodium hydroxide solution (in water) reacts with hydrochloric acid solution (in water) to produce
sodium chloride solution and water.

(c)Lead nitrate solution reacts with potassium iodide solution to form a yellow precipitate of lead iodide
and potassium nitrate solution.
 TYPES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Combination Reaction

Decomposition Reaction

Displacement Reaction

Double Displacement Reaction

Precipitation reaction

Exothermic Reaction

Endothermic Reaction

Oxidation and Reduction

 Combination Reaction
Reaction in which a single product is formed from two or more reactants is
known as a combination reaction.eg
CaO(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq)
(Quick lime) (Slaked lime)

C(s) + O2 (g) → CO2(g)

2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(l)
In simple language we can say that when two or more substances (elements or compounds) combine to form a
single product, the reactions are called combination reactions.

• Slaked lime is used for white washing walls.

• Calcium hydroxide reacts slowly with the carbon dioxide in air to form a thin layer of calcium carbonate on the
walls.
• Calcium carbonate is formed after two to three days of white washing and gives a shiny finish to the walls.
• It is interesting to note that the chemical formula for marble is also .
Ca(OH)2(aq) + CO2(g) → (s) + H2O (l)
(Calcium hydroxide) (Calcium carbonate)
 Decomposition Reaction

Reaction in which a single reactant breaks down to give simpler products is known as decomposition reaction. It is
three types
(1)Thermal decomposition: - When a decomposition reaction is carried out by heating, it is called thermal
decomposition .Eg.
green colour of the ferrous sulphate
2FeSO4(s) Fe2O3(s) + SO2(g) + SO3(g) crystals has changed and also smell
(Ferrous sulphate) (Ferric oxide) the characteristic odour of burnings
sulphur comes.
Heat
CaCO3(s) ―――→ CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Used in manufacture of cement
(Lime stone) (Quick lime)

Heat
2Pb(NO3)2(s) ―――→ 2PbO(s) + 4NO 2(g) + O2(g)
(Lead nitrate) (Lead oxide) (Nitrogen dioxide)
Brown fumes
 Decomposition Reaction
(2) Electrolysis: - When a decomposition reaction is carried out by passing electricity, it is called
electrolysis.eg

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

At anode- O2, at cathode-H2

Volume of H2 is twice the volume of O2

Gases are collected by the downward displacement

of water

2NaCl(l) 2Na(s) + Cl2(g)

Electrolysis of water
 Decomposition Reaction

(3) Photolysis: - When a decomposition reaction is carried out in presence of sunlight, it is called
photolysis.eg

2AgCl(s) 2Ag(s) + Cl2(g)

(Silver chloride) (Silver)
White grey

2AgBr(s) 2Ag(s) + Br 2(g)

(Silver bromide) (Silver)

The above reactions are used in black and white photography.

 Displacement Reaction

Reaction in which a more reactive metal displaces less reactive metal from its salt solution is called
displacement reaction.eg

Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) → FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

(Iron) (Copper sulphate) (Iron sulphate) (Copper)
Blue colour light geen
 Displacement Reaction

Some another examples of displacement reactions:-

Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) → ZnSO4(aq) + CU(s)

(Zinc) (Copper sulphate) (Zinc sulphate) (Copper)

Pb(s) + CuCl2(aq) → PbCl2(aq) + Cu(s)

(Lead) (Copper chloride) (Lead chloride) (Copper)

Iron, zinc and lead are more reactive elements than copper. They displace copper from its
compounds.
 Double Displacement Reaction

Reaction in which there is an exchange of ions between the reactants is called double displacement
reaction.eg

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

(Sodium sulphate) (Barium chloride) (Barium sulphate) (Sodium chloride)

NaCl (aq) + AgNO3 (aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO 3(aqq)

(Sodium chloride) (Silver nitrate) (Silver chloride) (Sodium nitrate)

Precipitation Reaction

Precipitation Reaction: - Any reaction that produces a precipitate (insoluble substance) is called a
precipitation reaction
 Practice time:
1. When the solutions of lead(II) nitrate and potassium iodide are mixed.
(i) What is the colour of the precipitate formed? Name the compound precipitated?
(ii) Write the balanced chemical equation for this reaction.
(iii) Is this also a double displacement reaction?

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

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

3. Why is the amount of gas collected in one of the test tubes during electrolysis of water is double of
the amount collected in the other? Name this gas.
 Exothermic Reaction
Reaction in which heat is released along with the formation of products is called exothermic rection.eg.

1. Burning of natural gas. + Heat

2. Respiration
3. Decomposition of vegetable matter into compost.
4. Burning of Mg ribbon.

Endothermic Reaction
Reaction in which energy is absorbed is known as endothermic reaction. Eg
1. 2AgCl(s) 2Ag(s) + Cl2(g)
2. 2AgBr(s) 2Ag(s) + Br2(g)
3. Electrolysis of water.
4. When solid barium hydroxide is mixed with solid ammonium chloride, an
endothermic reaction takes place with the evolution of ammonia. It is a
double displacement gas evolution reaction.
 Redox reaction
Reaction in which Reduction and oxidation takes place simultaneously is called redox reaction.
oxidation reduction
1. Addition of oxygen 1. Removal of oxygen
1. Removal of hydrogen 2. Addition of hydrogen
2. Addition of an electronegative 3. Removal of an electronegative
element element
3. Removal of an electropositive 4. Addition of an electropositive
element element
4. Loss of electron 5. Gain of electron

Oxidising agent:-substance which is reduced

Reducing agent:- substance which is oxidised.
CuO is reduced- Oxidising agent
H2 is oxidised- reducing agent
 Redox reaction
When Cu is heated its surface coated with black copper(II)
oxide
If hydrogen gas is passed over this heated material (CuO), the
black coating on the surface turns brown

carbon is oxidised to CO and ZnO is reduced to Zn.

HCl is oxidised to Cl2 whereas MnO2 is reduced to MnCl2.

Try yourself:-
When a magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling flame in air (oxygen) and changes into a white
substance, magnesium oxide. Is magnesium being oxidised or reduced in this reaction?
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.eg. Rusting of iron, black coating on silver, green coating on copper.

Methods of Prevention of corrosion:- Oiling, Painting, Greasing, Alloying, Electroplating, Galvanization ( Coating
of zinc on iron)

Rancidity: - When fats and oils are oxidized, their smell and taste change, it is called rancidity.
Rancidity can be prevented by adding antioxidants, by keeping food in air tight containers, by flushing bags
of chips with an inert gas such as nitrogen.