Chemical Reactions and Equations Decomposition Reaction:
The reaction in which a compound splits into two or more simpler substances is called
decomposition reaction. A→B+C
(a) Thermal decomposition:
The word-equation (Balanced equation)
When decomposition is carried out by heating.
Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
(Reactants) (Product) 3Fe + 4H₂O → Fe₃O₄ + 4H₂
Sometimes the reaction conditions, such as temperature, pressure, catalyst,
etc., for the reaction are indicated above and/or below the arrow in the
equation. For example –
(iii) Heating of lead nitrate and emission of nitrogen dioxide
(b) Electrolytic Decomposition:
Combination Reaction: When decomposition is carried out by passing electricity.
The reaction in which two or more reactants combine to form a single product.
(i) Burning of coal C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) (c) Photolytic Decomposition
(ii) Formation of water 2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(l)
When decomposition is carried out in presence of sunlight.
(iii) CaO(s) + H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂ (aq) + Heat
(Quick lime) (Slaked lime)
Calcium hydroxide reacts slowly with the carbon dioxide in air to form a thin layer of
calcium carbonate on the walls. Endothermic Reaction:
Ca(OH)₂ (aq) + CO₂ (g) → CaCO₃ (s) + H₂O(l)
The reactions which require energy in the form of heat, light or electricity to break
(Calcium hydroxide) (Calcium carbonate)
reactants are called endothermic reactions.
Exothermic Reactions: Displacement Reaction:
Reaction in which heat is released along with formation of products. The chemical reactions in which more reactive element displaces less reactive
(i) Burning of natural gas. element from its salt solution.
CH4(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + 2H₂O(g) + Heat
(ii) Respiration is also an exothermic reaction.
C₆H₁₂O₆(aq) + 6O₂(g) → 6CO₂(aq) + 6H₂O(l) + energy
(Glucose)
(iii) Pb(s) + CuCl₂ (aq) → PbCl₂ (aq) + Cu(s)
(Copper chloride) (Lead chloride)
Double Displacement Reaction:
Acid , Bases and Salts
A reaction in which new compounds are formed by mutual exchange of ions
Reaction of Metals with:
between two compounds.
Acids: Acid + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas Bases: Base + Metal → Salt + Hydrogen gas
2HCl + Zn → ZnCl₂ + H₂ ↑ 2NaOH + Zn → Na₂ZnO₂ + H₂ ↑
(Zinc chloride)
(Sodium zincate)
Test for H2 gas: Hydrogen gas
White precipitate of BaSO4 is formed, so it is also called precipitation reaction. released can be tested by bringing
a burning candle near gas bubbles,
it bursts with pop sound.
Oxidation: Reduction
It is a process of gaining oxygen It is the gain of electrons or a decrease in
during a reaction by an atom, the oxidation state of an atom by another
Reaction of Metal Carbonates / Metal Hydrogen Carbonates with:
molecule or ion. atom, an ion or a molecule.
Acids: Acid + Metal Carbonate / Metal hydrogen Carbonate → Salt + CO₂ + H₂O
2HCl + Na₂CO₃ → 2NaCl + CO₂ + H₂O
HCl + NaHCO₃ → NaCl + CO₂ + H₂O
Bases: Base + Metal Carbonate / Metal Hydrogen Carbonate→ No Reaction
In this reaction, CuO is reduced to Cu and H2 is oxidised to H2O. In other
words, one reactant gets oxidised while the other gets reduced. Such
reactions are called oxidation-reduction reactions or redox reactions.
Test for CO₂: CO₂ can be tested by passing it through lime water. Lime water
turns milky.
Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂ → CaCO₃ + H₂O
(Lime water) (White precipitate)
When excess CO₂ is passed, milkiness disappears.
CaCO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → Ca(HCO₃)₂
(Soluble in water)
Reaction of Acids and Bases With Each Other:
Acid + Base → Salt + Water
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H₂O(l)
Common property between all acids and all bases
When acids are dissolved in water they dissociate as H+ ions.
HCl (aq) → H+(aq) + Cl– (aq)
HNO₃(aq) → H+(aq) + NO₃ – (aq)
CH₃COOH (aq) → H+ (aq) + CH₃COO− (aq)
As H+ ion cannot exist alone so it combines with water molecules and forms Metals and Non-metals
H3O+ (hydronium) ions.
Reaction of Metals with Air:
Metals combine with oxygen to form metal oxide.
Metals + O₂ → Metal oxide
Examples:
Reaction of acids with metal oxides :
(i) 2Cu + O₂ → 2CuO
Metal oxide + Acid → Salt + Water Copper (II) oxide (black)
Copper oxide reacts with dil. hydrochloric acid to form copper chloride (salt) and water. (ii) 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃
Aluminium oxide
CuO + 2HCl → CuCl₂ + H₂O (iii) 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
Copper oxide Copper chloride Magnesium oxide
Amphoteric Oxides:
Sodium Chloride (NaCl): Metal oxides which react with both acids as well as bases to produce salt
and water are called amphoteric oxides.
Examples:
Preparation of Sodium Hydroxide: Al₂O₃ + 6HCl → 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂O
Aluminium chloride
Al₂O₃ + 2NaOH → 2NaAlO₂ + H₂O
Sodium aluminate
Bleaching Powder: Sodium oxide and potassium oxide dissolve in water to produce alkalis
Ca(OH)₂(aq)+Cl₂(g)→CaOCl₂(aq)+H₂O(l) Na₂O(s) + H₂O(l) → 2NaOH(aq)
K₂O(s) + H₂O(l) → 2KOH(aq)
Baking Soda: Reaction of Metals with Water:
Metals react with water to produce metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Metal + Water → Metal oxide + Hydrogen
Examples:
Washing Soda: Metal oxide + Water → Metal hydroxide
2Mg + 2H₂O → 2MgO + 2H₂ ↑
Magnesium oxide
MgO + H₂O → Mg(OH)₂
Magnesium hydroxide
Plaster of Paris: Metals like potassium and sodium react violently with cold water.
2K(s) + 2H₂O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H₂ (g) + heat energy
2Na(s) + 2H₂O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H₂ (g) + heat energy
The reaction of calcium with water is less violent.
Ca(s) + 2H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂ (aq) + H₂ (g)
Metals like aluminium, iron and zinc do not react either with cold or hot water.
But they react with steam to form the metal oxide and hydrogen.
2Al(s) + 3H₂O(g) → Al₂O₃ (s) + 3H₂ (g)
3Fe(s) + 4H₂O(g) → Fe₃ O₄ (s) + 4H₂ (g)
Reactions of Metals with Acid: Copper, mercury
when manganese dioxide is heated with aluminum powder, the following
and silver don’t
Metal + Dil. Acid → Salt + Hydrogen gas react with dilute reaction takes place –
e.g., Mg + H₂SO₄ → MgSO₄ + H₂ acids. 3MnO₂ (s) + 4Al(s) → 3Mn(l) + 2Al₂O₃ (s) + Heat
Reaction of Metals with solutions of other Metal Salts:
Extracting Metals towards the Top of the Activity Series:
Metal A + Salt solution B → Salt solution A + Metal B
Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu
These metals are obtained by electrolytic reduction. For example, sodium, magnesium
and calcium are obtained by the electrolysis of their molten chlorides. The metals are
Reaction of Non-Metals: Reaction with oxygen: deposited at the cathode , whereas, chlorine is liberated at the anode.
Non- metals react with oxygen to form acidic oxides. The reactions are –
e.g., C + O₂ → CO₂ At cathode Na+ + e– → Na
At anode 2Cl– → Cl₂ + 2e–
Reaction with chlorine:
Non-metals react with chlorine to form their respective Chlorides. Thermit reaction:
e.g., H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl
Fe₂O₃ (s) + 2Al(s) → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ (s) + Heat
Reaction with hydrogen:
Non-metals react with hydrogen to form their respective hydrides.
e.g., H₂ + S → H₂S
Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series:
For example, cinnabar (HgS) is an ore of mercury. When it is heated in air, it is
first converted into mercuric oxide (HgO). Mercuric oxide is then reduced to
mercury on further heating.
Similarly, copper which is found as Cu2S in nature can be obtained from its
ore by just heating in air.
Extracting Metals in the Middle of the Activity Series
Carbon and its Compounds
SOME IMPORTANT CARBON COMPOUNDS – ETHANOL AND ETHANOIC ACID
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON COMPOUNDS Reactions of Ethanol
(i) Reaction with sodium :
Combustion: Formation of sodium ethoxide and hydrogen.
Carbon compounds burn in air to give carbon dioxide, water, heat and light.
2CH₃CH₂OH + 2Na → 2CH₃CH₂ONa + H₂
(i) C + O₂ → CO₂ + heat and light
(ii) CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + heat and light
(ii) Reaction to give unsaturated hydrocarbon:
(iii) CH₃CH₂OH + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + heat and light
Heating ethanol at 443 K with excess concentrated sulphuric acid results
in the dehydration of ethanol to give ethene –
Oxidation:
Alcohols can be converted into carboxylic acid in the presence of oxidising
agent like alkaline KMnO4 (potassium permanganate) or acidic potassium
dichromate K2Cr2O7.
Chemical Properties of ethanoic acid
(i) Reaction with sodium carbonate:
2CH₃COOH + Na₂CO₃ → 2CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂
(ii) Reaction with sodium hydrogen carbonate:
Addition Reaction: CH₃COOH + NaHCO₃ → CH₃COONa + H₂O + CO₂
Unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkene, alkyne) undergo addition reactions. Brisk effervescence marks the presence of carbon dioxide.
(iii) Reaction with NaOH:
CH₃COOH + NaOH → CH₃COONa + H₂O
(iv) Reaction with ethanol (Esterification):
Esterification reaction: Esters are most commonly formed by reaction of an
acid and an alcohol. Ethanoic acid reacts with absolute ethanol in the
Substitution Reaction: presence of an acid catalyst to give an ester –
Saturated hydrocarbons undergo substitution reaction in the presence of
sunlight.
Generally, esters are sweet-smelling substances. These are used in making
perfumes and as flavouring agents.