Chapter 5

Language of Chemistry
Class 8 - Concise Chemistry Selina

Exercise

Question 1

Define:

(a) Radical

(b) Valency

(c) Molecular formula

Answer

(a) Radical is an atom of an element or a group of atoms of the same or different elements
that behave as a single unit and has positive or negative charge.

(b) Valency is the combining capacity of an atom of an element or of a radical with the atoms
of other elements or radicals to form molecules.

(c) A molecular formula of a compound is the symbolic representation of its one molecule
which shows the number of atoms of each element present in it.

Question 2

Give the symbols and valencies of the following radicals:

(a) Hydroxide

(b) Chloride

(c) Carbonate

(d) Ammonium

(e) Nitrate

Answer
 Radical Symbol Valency

Hydroxide OH- 1

Chloride Cl- 1

Carbonate CO32- 2

Ammonium NH4+ 1

Nitrate NO3- 1

Question 3

Write the molecular formulae for the oxides and sulphides of the following elements.

(a) Sodium

(b) Calcium

(c) Hydrogen

Answer

Element Oxide Sulphide

Sodium Na2O Na2S

Calcium CaO CaS

Hydrogen H2O H2S

Question 4

Write the molecular formulae for the following compounds and name the elements present.

(a) Baking soda

(b) Common salt

(c) Sulphuric acid

(d) Nitric acid

Compounds Molecular formula Elements present

Baking soda NaHCO3 Sodium, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen

Common salt NaCl Sodium, chlorine

Sulphuric acid H2SO4 Hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen

Nitric acid HNO3 Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen

Question 5

The valency of aluminium is 3. Write the valency of other radicals present in the following
compounds.

(a) Aluminium chloride

(b) Aluminium oxide

(c) Aluminium nitride

(d) Aluminium sulphate

Answer

Compounds Radical Valency

Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) Chloride (Cl-) 1

Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) Oxide (O2-) 2

Aluminium nitride (AlN) Nitride (N3-) 3

Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) Sulphate (SO42-) 2

Question 6

What is variable valency? Give two examples of elements showing variable valency.

Answer
Some elements exhibit more than one valency and they are said to have variable valency.

Examples: Iron and copper.

Metal Radicals Valency

Iron (Fe) Ferrous, Ferric 2, 3

Copper (Cu) Cuprous, Cupric 1, 2

Question 7

(a) What is a chemical equation?

(b) Why is it necessary to balance a chemical equation?

(c) What are the limitations of a chemical equation?

Answer

(a) A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using symbols
and formulae of the substances involved in the reaction.

(b) It is necessary to balance a chemical equation so as to make the number of atoms of the
reactants equal to the number of atoms of the products because a chemical reaction is just a
rearrangement of atoms and atoms are neither created nor destroyed during the chemical
reaction.

(c) The limitations of a chemical equation are:

It does not inform about:

1. the physical states of the reactants and the products i.e. whether they are solids,
liquids or gases.
2. the concentration of reactants and products.
3. the time taken for the completion of reaction.
4. the rate at which a reaction proceeds.
5. the heat changes during the reaction i.e. whether heat is given out or absorbed.
6. the conditions such as temperature, pressure, catalyst, etc. which affect the reaction.
7. the nature of the reaction i.e. whether it is reversible or irreversible.

Question 8

What are the ways by which a chemical equation can be made more informative?

Answer
A chemical equation can be made more informative by the following ways:

1. The physical state of the reactants and products can be indicated by putting s for solid,
l for liquid, g for gas, aq. for aqueous state besides the symbols for the reactants and
products.
2. Evolution or absorption of heat during the reaction can be denoted by adding or
subtracting a heat term on the product side.
3. Temperature, pressure and catalyst can be indicated above the arrow (⟶) separating
the reactants and products.
4. Concentration of reactants and products are indicated by adding the words (dil.) for
dilute and (conc.) for concentrated before their formulae.
5. By the sign ⟶ or ⇌ information about irreversible and reversible reactions can be
known.
6. Upward arrow (↑) indicates a gas is evolved, downward arrow (↓) indicates a
precipitate is formed, sign delta (Δ) indicates heat is evolved or absorbed.

Question 9

State the law of conservation of mass.

Answer

Law of conservation of mass states that matter can neither be created nor be destroyed, it can
only be transformed from one form to another.

Question 10

Differentiate between:

(a) Reactants and Products

(b) A balanced and an unbalanced chemical equation

Answer

(a) Differences between Reactants and Products

Reactants Products

The substances that are used as the starting The substances which are formed as
material and which react with one another are a result of the reaction are called
called reactants. products.

Reactants are written on the left hand side of Products are written on the right
the equation. hand side of the equation.
 Reactants Products

In equation C + O2 ⟶ CO2, C and O2 are In equation C + O2 ⟶ CO2, CO2 is

(b) Differences between a balanced and an unbalanced chemical equation

Balanced chemical equation Unbalanced chemical equation

In balanced chemical equation the total In unbalanced chemical equation the total
number of atoms on the reactant side as number of atoms on the reactant side and
well as the product side are equal. product side are not equal.

Example: Example:
Zn + H2SO4 ⟶ ZnSO4 + H2 H2 + O2 ⟶ H2O

Question 11

Balance the following equations:

1. N2 + H2 ⟶ NH3

2. H2 + O2 ⟶ H2O

3. Na2O + H2O ⟶ NaOH

4. CO + O2 ⟶ CO2

5. Zn + HCl ⟶ ZnCl2 + H2

Answer

1. N2 + 3H2 ⟶ 2NH3

2. 2H2 + O2 ⟶ 2H2O

3. Na2O + H2O ⟶ 2NaOH

4. 2CO + O2 ⟶ 2CO2

5. Zn + 2HCl ⟶ ZnCl2 + H2

Question 12

Write balanced chemical equations for the following word equations:

1. Iron + Chlorine ⟶ Iron(III) chloride

3. Magnesium + oxygen ⟶ Magnesium oxide

4. Calcium oxide + water ⟶ Calcium hydroxide

5. Sodium + Chlorine ⟶ Sodium chloride

Answer

1. 2Fe + 3Cl2 ⟶ 2FeCl3

2. Mg + H2SO4 ⟶ MgSO4 + H2

3. 2Mg + O2 ⟶ 2MgO

4. CaO + H2O ⟶ Ca(OH)2

5. 2Na + Cl2 ⟶ 2NaCl

Question 13

What information do you get from the following chemical equation?

Zn(s) + 2HCl (dil) ⟶ ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

Answer

We get the following information from the given chemical equation:

1. Zinc and Hydrochloric acid are reactants. Zinc is in solid state that reacts with dilute
HCl.
2. The reaction is irreversible.
3. The products formed are aqueous solution of zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.
4. The equation is balanced i.e. number of atoms of each element on reactants and
products sides are equal.