CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances (reactants) are transformed into
different substances (products). This occurs when chemical bonds between atoms are broken and
new bonds are formed. The change can be observed in various ways, such as color change, gas
formation, precipitation, or temperature change. Here is an image representing balancing chemical
equation-

Other Examples of Chemical Reactions:

i) Rusting of iron:

4Fe + 3O2 → 2Fe2O3

ii) Burning of magnesium in the air:

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO

• What is Chemical Equations ?

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

involves the chemical formulas of the reactants on the left side and the products on
the right, separated by an arrow (→), which shows the direction of the reaction.

Example: The reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water can be written as:
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

In a chemical equation:

• Reactants are written on the left side.

• Products are written on the right side.

• An arrow points from reactants to products, indicating the direction of the

reaction.

• Balancing Chemical Equations

One of the most important skills in chemistry is balancing chemical equations. A

balanced equation has the same number of atoms of each element on both sides.
This is essential because matter cannot be created or destroyed (the Law of
Conservation of Mass).

Steps to Balance a Chemical Equation:

1. Write the unbalanced equation with the correct chemical formulas for all
reactants and products.

2. Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides.

3. Adjust the coefficients (the numbers before the formulas) to balance the
atoms.

4. Ensure the coefficients are in the simplest whole number ratio.

Example: Balancing the equation for the formation of water:

H2 + O2 → H2O (unbalanced)

Step 1: There are 2 hydrogen atoms on both sides but only 1 oxygen atom on the
right side.

Step 2: Adjust the coefficient of water:

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O (balanced)

Now, both sides have 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms.

• Types of Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions can be classified into several types based on how the reactants
transform into products. In Class 10, you’ll learn about five main types of reactions:

1. Combination Reaction: In this type, two or more reactants combine to form a

single product. Example: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

2. Decomposition Reaction: A single compound breaks down into two or more

simpler substances. Example: 2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2

3. Displacement Reaction: In this reaction, one element replaces another in a

compound. Example: Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu

4. Double Displacement Reaction: Two compounds exchange ions to form

new compounds. Example: Na2SO4 + BaCl2 → BaSO4 + 2NaCl

5. Oxidation-Reduction or Redox Reactions: In an oxidation-reduction (redox)

reaction, one substance gains oxygen or loses electrons (oxidation), while
another loses oxygen or gains electrons (reduction). Example: ZnO + C → Zn
+ CO

• Zinc oxide (ZnO) is reduced to zinc (Zn) because it loses oxygen.

• Carbon (C) is oxidised to carbon monoxide (CO) because it gains oxygen.

• Observations of Chemical Reactions

Certain observable changes indicate that a chemical reaction has taken place.
These include:
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

Observation Description Example

When the color of

Copper turns black
the reactants
when heated in air
Change in Color changes, it often
due to the formation
indicates a reaction
of copper oxide.
has occurred.

Gas bubbles forming Zinc reacting with

during a reaction can dilute hydrochloric
Evolution of Gas
indicate a chemical acid evolves
change. hydrogen gas.

The reaction
A solid formed in a between sodium
Formation of liquid reaction chloride and silver
Precipitate mixture indicates nitrate forms a white
precipitation. precipitate of silver
chloride.

A reaction that Exothermic reactions

Change in releases or absorbs like the reaction of
Temperature heat shows a calcium oxide with
temperature change. water release heat.

Corrosion: Corrosion is the gradual destruction of metals due to reactions with

substances like moisture or acids. Rusting of iron, blackening of silver, and greening
of copper are common examples.

Rancidity: Rancidity happens when fats and oils oxidize, changing their taste and
smell. To prevent it, antioxidants are added, and foods are kept in airtight containers.
Chips bags are flushed with nitrogen to slow oxidation.

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

A magnesium ribbon should be cleaned with sandpaper before burning to remove
the protective layer of basic magnesium carbonate that forms on its surface due to
reaction with moist air . This layer prevents the ribbon from burning easily.

2. What happens chemically when quicklime is added to water?

Quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO) reacts vigorously with water (H! O) to produce
slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)! ) and a large amount of heat. This is and
exothermic combination reaction:
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

CaO(𝑠) + H! O(𝑙) → Ca(OH)! (𝑎𝑞) + Heat

3. On what basis is a chemical equation balanced?

A chemical equation is balanced to satisfy the Law of Conservation of Mass, which
states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
Balancing ensures that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both
the reactant and product sides of the equation.

4. What is the role of an oxidizing agent in a reaction?

An oxidizing agent is a substance that gives oxygen to another substance or
removes hydrogen from it. In terms of electrons, it accepts electrons and causes
another substance to be oxidized, while itself being reduced.

5. Examples of daily life chemical changes like rusting of iron.

Other examples include:

• Digestion of food

• Burning of fuels (like wood, LPG)

• Souring of milk

• Respiration in living organisms

6. Which gas is filled in chips packets to prevent rancidity?

Nitrogen gas is filled in chips packets. Nitrogen is an inert gas that prevents the oil
and fat-containing chips from oxidizing and becoming rancid (bad smelling/tasting).

7. What is a balanced chemical equation and its importance?

A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms of each element on
both sides of the equation (reactants and products). Its importance lies in the fact
that it obeys the Law of Conservation of Mass.

8. Understanding different types of reactions...

• Combination: Two or more substances combine to form a single substance (

A + B → AB). E.g., C + O! → CO! .

• Decomposition: A single compound breaks down into two or more simpler

substances
#$%&
(AB → A + B). E.g., CaCO" -⎯/ CaO + CO!

• Displacement: A more reactive element displaces a less reactive element

from its compound (A + BC → AC + B). E.g., Fe + CuSO' → FeSO' + Cu.

• Double Displacement: Two different atoms or groups of atoms (ions) are

exchanged to form two new compounds (AB + CD → AD + CB). E.g.,
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

Na! SO' + BaCl! → BaSO' (𝑠) + 2NaCl.

9. Defining oxidation and reduction.

• Oxidation: Gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen, or loss of electrons.

• Reduction: Loss of oxygen, gain of hydrogen, or gain of electrons.

10. What is rancidity and how it can be prevented?

Rancidity is the process where fats and oils present in food items get oxidized when
exposed to air for a long time, causing them to have an unpleasant smell and taste.
It can be prevented by adding antioxidants, packaging in nitrogen gas, refrigeration,
and storing food in airtight containers.

11. What is corrosion and the formula for rust?

Corrosion is the process by which metals are slowly eaten away by the reaction of
air, moisture, or a chemical on their surface. Rust is the reddish-brown flaky
substance formed when iron corrodes. The chemical formula for rust is hydrated
iron(III) oxide: Fe! O" ⋅ 𝑥H! O.

12. Balancing chemical equations:

• HNO" + Ca(OH)! → Ca(NO" )! + H! O

Balanced: 2HNO" + Ca(OH)! → Ca(NO" )! + 2H! O

• Fe + H! O → Fe" O' + H!
Balanced: 3Fe + 4H! O → Fe" O' + 4H!

13. Exothermic and endothermic reactions with examples.

• Exothermic: Reactions that release energy (usually as heat or light). E.g.,

burning of natural gas (CH' + 2O! → CO! + 2H! O + Heat).

• Endothermic: Reactions that absorb energy from the surroundings. E.g.,

()*+
decomposition of calcium carbonate (CaCO" -⎯/ CaO + CO! ).

14. Why the color of copper sulfate solution changes when an iron nail is
dipped in it.
The blue color of copper sulfate (CuSO' ) solution fades and a greenish color
develops because iron is more reactive than copper. Iron displaces copper from the
solution to form iron(II) sulfate (FeSO' ) and solid copper metal:
Fe(𝑠) + CuSO' (𝑎𝑞) → FeSO' (𝑎𝑞) + Cu(𝑠)

15. Identifying reaction types from given equations.

This requires analyzing specific equations, as covered in Q8.

16. Questions about substances used for whitewashing.

The substance used for whitewashing is slaked lime (calcium hydroxide,Ca(OH)! ),
CHAPTER 1 CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

which is formed by adding quicklime to water. It reacts slowly with atmospheric

carbon dioxide to form a hard, shiny layer of calcium carbonate (CaCO" ) on the
walls.

17. Electrolysis of water and gas volumes.

When water is electrolyzed, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are produced at the
cathode and anode, respectively. The volume of hydrogen gas collected is double
the volume of oxygen gas because water has the chemical formula H! O (two parts
hydrogen to one part oxygen).

18. Reasons for silver not reacting with dilute H𝟐 SO𝟒 and applying paint on
iron articles.

• Silver reaction: Silver is less reactive than hydrogen (it is below hydrogen in
the reactivity series), so it cannot displace hydrogen from dilute sulfuric acid.

• Painting iron: Applying paint prevents the iron surface from coming into
direct contact with moisture and air, thereby preventing rusting (corrosion).

19. Identifying oxidized and reduced substances in a reaction.

()*+
E.g., In CuO + H! → -⎯/ Cu + H! O:

• CuO is reduced to Cu (loss of oxygen).

• H! is oxidized to H! O (gain of oxygen).

20. Writing balanced equations for reactions like Zinc + Silver nitrate.
Zinc reacts with silver nitrate solution to form zinc nitrate and silver metal (a
displacement reaction):
Zn(𝑠) + 2AgNO" (𝑎𝑞) → Zn(NO" )! (𝑎𝑞) + 2Ag(𝑠)

************************