CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS

Chemical Reaction

Chemical reaction is the process by which two or more substance react with each other to form new substance with
different chemical properties.

Ways to identify a chemical change

The following changes can be used to determine that the chemical reaction has taken place.

Type of Change Observation Example Reaction

(What You See, Smell, Feel) (Balanced)

Change in State Water formed as liquid from 2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(l)

gaseous hydrogen & oxygen

White solid calcium carbonate CaO(s) + CO₂(g) → CaCO₃(s)

formed from solid + gas

Change in Colour Blue copper sulphate solution Fe(s) +CuSO₄.5H2O(aq) → FeSO₄.7H2O(aq) + Cu(s)
turns green (Ferrous Sulphate)
(Blue) (Green)
and reddish-brown copper is
deposited when Iron is added

Gas Evolution Colourless hydrogen gas Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)

evolves (bubbles seen)

Carbon dioxide gas evolves CaCO₃(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl₂(aq) + CO₂(g) + H₂O(l)

(effervescence seen)

Brown fumes of Nitrogen 2Pb(NO3)2(s)→ 2PbO(s)+ 4NO2(g)+ O2(g)

Dioxide is observed during the (Yellow residue) (Brown Fumes)
decomposition of Lead Nitrate
Temperature Temperature increases; bright 2Mg(s) + O₂(g) → 2MgO(s) + Heat
Change white flame when magnesium
(White Powder)
(Exothermic) burns

Temperature Temperature decreases; heat NH4Cl + Ba(OH)2 → BaCl2 + NH4OH

Change absorbed
(Endothermic)

Precipitate White precipitate of Barium Na₂SO₄(aq) + BaCl₂(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + BaSO₄(s)

Formation sulphate forms (White ppt)

Yellow precipitate of lead Pb(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2KI(aq) → PbI₂(s) + 2KNO₃(aq)

iodide forms (Yellow ppt)
Chemical Equation

A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in the form of symbols and formula

Magnesium + Oxygen → Magnesium oxide

2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)

i. The substance which take part in a chemical reaction are called reactants.

ii. The New produced as a result of chemical reaction are called products

(Products formed have properties, which are entirely different (Chemically) from those of the reactant)

When a magnesium ribbon is heated, it burns in air with dazzling white flame to from a (OBSERVATION)

Magnesium + Oxygen  Magnesium Oxide Powder

i. Mg and O are reactant

ii. MgO is a product which is a white coloured powder

Note: Mg Ribbon is cleaned by Rubbing with a sand paper. This is done to remove the protective layer of magnesium
oxide from the surface of magnesium ribbon.

Balanced and Unbalanced Chemical Equation

1. Unbalanced Chemical Equation: Has an unequal number of atoms of one or more elements in the reactant and
products-

H2+O2 → H2O

BUT according to “Law of conservation of mass”, “mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
So, this means that the total mass of all the reactants and products at any point of time must be the same. ALSO, No
NEW Element can appear in the reaction (EXCEPT NUCLEAR REACTIONS)

Example of a balanced chemical equation

2H2+O2 → 2H2O

THIS CAN BE DONE BY THE HIT AND TRIAL METHOD

Information Convened by a Chemical Equation

1. The Name of various reactants and the products

2. The formula of the reactants and the products

3. The relative amount (in mol) of the reactants and products.

4. The physical state of reactant and product

5. Heat change during the reaction

6. The specific conditions necessary for the reactions.

Type of Chemical Reaction 3. Displacement Reaction

1. Combination Reaction 4. Double Displacement Reaction

2. Decomposition Reaction 5. Redox Reactions (Oxidation and Reduction Reactions)

1. Combination Reaction OR Addition Reaction (#iaminlove)

Those reaction in which two or more substances combines to form a single substance, are called combination reaction.

Examples:

Topic Word Equation Chemical Equation (Balanced) Heat Effect + Observation

Magnesium + Oxygen Magnesium + Oxygen → 2Mg(s) + O₂(g) → 2MgO(s) Exothermic (bright white light) + White
Magnesium oxide Powder of MgO

Calcium oxide + Calcium oxide (quick lime) + Water CaO(s) + H₂O(l) → Ca(OH)₂(aq) Exothermic
Water** → Calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) (container becomes hot)

Burning of Coal Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide C(s) + O₂(g) → CO₂(g) Exothermic

Formation of Water Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water 2H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2H₂O(l) Exothermic

**Quick lime (CaO) is mixed with water to form Slaked Lime (Ca(OH)2), which is used to white wash the walls. Slaked lime reacts slowly with CO2 present in the air to form
a shiny thin layer of crystalline CaCO3. (Note that Chemical formula of limestone and marble is also CaCO3.)

A) Exothermic Reaction (#garmi): The reaction in which heat is released along with the formation of product are called exothermic reaction

Topic Word Equation Chemical Equation Type of Reaction Heat Effect + Observation
(Balanced)
Burning of Natural Gas Methane + Oxygen → Carbon CH₄(g) + 2O₂(g) → CO₂(g) + Combustion + Exothermic Exothermic
dioxide + Water 2H₂O(l) + Heat
 Breakdown of Glucose Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon dioxide C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + Combination + Oxidation + Energy released
(Respiration) + Water + Energy 6H₂O + Energy Exothermic

Decomposition of Organic matter + Oxygen → Carbon C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + Decomposition by microbes Exothermic (compost
Vegetable Matter dioxide + Water + Heat 6H₂O + Heat becomes warm)
(DECOMPOSITION which is
Exothermic)

B) Endothermic Reaction (#thandi): The reaction in which energy (in any form) is absorbed by the reactant (s) to complete the reaction is known as Endothermic Reaction.
These are generally characterised by the decrease in temperature.

Double displacement Barium Hydroxide + Ammonium NH4Cl + Ba(OH)2 → BaCl2 + Double Displacement+ Energy is absorbed from the
Reaction between Barium Chloride → Barium Chloride + NH4OH Endothermic surroundings. The reaction
Hydroxide and Ammonium Ammonium Hydroxide vessel becomes cold.
Chloride
Photochemical Silver Bromide → Silver + Bromine 2AgBr(s) (Sunlight) → Photochemical Light Energy is absorbed
Decomposition of Silver gas 2Ag(s) + Br2 ↑ Decomposition
Bromide.

2. Decomposition Reaction (#breakup)

Those reactions in which one substance (Reactant) absorbs some form of energy (heat, electricity, light) break down into two or more substances
Examples:

Reactant Type of Decomposition Balanced Chemical Equation Observation

Ferrous sulphate Thermal 2FeSO4.7H2O(green crystalline))→ Green crystals of Ferrous sulphate heptahydrate will first turn
heptahydrate decomposition FeSO4(white powder)→Fe2O3(s) (brown white due to loss of water of crystalisation. Then it
(FeSO₄·7H₂O) powder)+SO2(g)+SO3(g) undergoes decomposition and turn brown; SO₂ & SO₃
(pungent smell) evolve

Calcium carbonate CaCO3(s)→CaO(s)+CO2(g) CO₂ gas formed; residue is quicklime (CaO)

(CaCO₃)

Lead nitrate 2Pb(NO3)2(s)→2PbO(s)+4NO2(g)+O2(g) Brown fumes of NO₂; yellow PbO formed

(Pb(NO3)2)

Silver chloride (AgCl) Photodecomposition 2AgCl(s)→2Ag(s)+Cl2(g) White AgCl turns grey

(sunlight)
Silver bromide (AgBr) 2AgBr(s)→2Ag(s)+Br2(g) Yellow AgBr turns grey

Water (H₂O) Electrolytic 2H2O(l)→2H2(g)+O2(g) Bubbles of H₂ at cathode (twice as much) and O₂ at anode
decomposition

3. Displacement Reaction (#dusrekohatao)

A displacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its compound in aqueous solution.

(where A is more reactive than B)

Key Condition for Displacement Reactions

• The reacting element must be more reactive than the element it displaces.
Examples:

Reaction Type Reactants Balanced Chemical Equation Observation

Single Displacement Iron + Copper sulphate Fe(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → FeSO₄(aq) + Cu(s) Blue solution turns green; reddish-brown copper is deposited

Single Displacement Zinc + Copper sulphate Zn(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → ZnSO₄(aq) + Cu(s) Blue colour fades, becomes colourless; reddish-brown
copper is deposited

Single Displacement Lead + Copper chloride Pb(s) + CuCl₂(aq) → PbCl₂(s) + Cu(s) white PbCl₂ precipitates; reddish-brown copper is deposited

• Zinc displacing copper from copper sulphate solution

• Iron displacing copper from copper sulphate solution

• Copper cannot displace zinc from zinc sulphate solution (no reaction)

The displacement reaction can be predicted on the basis of the Reactivity Series
(Activity Series of Metals)

The reactivity series is a list of metals (One Non-metal: Hydrogen) arranged in

decreasing order of their reactivity.

Reactivity Series:

Role of Reactivity Series in Displacement Reactions

• A metal higher in the reactivity series can displace a metal lower from its
compound. (Helps in predicting the feasibility of displacement reaction)

• A metal lower in the series cannot displace a metal above it.

✔ Example:
Zinc (above Cu) → displaces copper
Copper (below Zn) → cannot displace zinc
4. Double Displacement Reaction

Two compounds react by exchange of ions to form two new compounds

Reaction Type Reactants Balanced Chemical Equation Observation

Double Displacement Sodium sulphate + Barium chloride Na₂SO₄(aq) + BaCl₂(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2NaCl(aq) White precipitate of BaSO₄ forms

Double Displacement Lead nitrate + Potassium iodide Pb(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2KI(aq) → PbI₂(s) + 2KNO₃(aq) Bright yellow precipitate of PbI₂ forms

Precipitation reaction

A precipitation reaction is a chemical reaction in which two aqueous solutions react to form an insoluble solid, called a precipitate.

Displacement reactions which are also precipitation reaction:

Reaction Balanced Chemical Equation Observation

Sodium sulphate + Barium chloride Na₂SO₄(aq) + BaCl₂(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2NaCl(aq) White precipitate of BaSO₄ forms

Lead nitrate + Potassium iodide Pb(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2KI(aq) → PbI₂(s) + 2KNO₃(aq) Bright yellow precipitate of PbI₂ forms

Silver nitrate + Sodium chloride AgNO₃(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO₃(aq) White precipitate of AgCl forms

ALL DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS ARE NOT PRECIPITATION REACTIONS

Neutralisation Reaction

A neutralisation reaction is a chemical reaction in which an acid reacts with a base to form salt and water. Many salts formed during this type of reaction are soluble in
water. Therefore, they can be used as examples of double displacement reactions which are not precipitation reaction.
 Reaction Balanced Chemical Equation Observation

Hydrochloric acid + Sodium hydroxide HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H₂O(l) No visible change; solution becomes neutral

Sulphuric acid + Sodium hydroxide H₂SO₄(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na₂SO₄(aq) + 2H₂O(l) No visible change; salt dissolved in water

Nitric acid + Potassium hydroxide HNO₃(aq) + KOH(aq) → KNO₃(aq) + H₂O(l) No visible change; forms soluble salt

5. Oxidation and Reduction Reaction

Reaction Type Definition Example Reaction Observation / Notes

Oxidation “Gaining oxygen, losing electrons, or losing hydrogen” 2Cu(s) + O₂(g) → 2CuO(s) Copper turns black as CuO forms
(OIL → Oxidation Is Loss)

Oxidation “Less reactive halide or H⁺ loses electrons or gains MnO₂(s) + 4HCl(aq) → MnCl₂(aq) + Chlorine gas (greenish-yellow
oxygen” Cl₂(g) + 2H₂O(l) fumes) evolves; MnO₂ reacts

Reduction “Losing oxygen, gaining electrons, or gaining hydrogen” CuO(s) + H₂(g) → Cu(s) + H₂O(l) Black CuO turns reddish-brown;
(RIG → Reduction Is Gain) water forms

Reduction “Metal oxides losing oxygen to get metal” ZnO(s) + C(s) → Zn(s) + CO(g) White ZnO reduced to metallic
zinc; CO gas evolves

Reducing Agent (Reductant) Oxidising Agent (Oxidant)

Any substance which adds oxygen or helps to remove hydrogen is known as Any substance which removes oxygen and or adds Hydrogen.
oxidising agent.
[Help in oxidation, but Reduces itself] [Helps in Reduction, but Oxidises itself]
Redox Reactions
The chemical reaction in which oxidation as well as reduction takes place simultaneously
Effect of Oxidation in Everyday Life

A) Rancidity: Food Material containing Fat and oil, when left for long time become Rancid
i.e., smell and taste deteriorate due to oxidation of food.
Preventions:
In order to prevent oxidation, we have to use some Anti-Oxidants like

• Sodium Benzoate

• Usually, chips packets are flushed with nitrogen gas

B) Corrosion:
The degradation of metals by the action of air, moisture on their surface is called corrosion.

Example:

• Rusting of Iron

2Fe (s)+3/2O2(g)+xH2O(l)→Fe2O3.XH2O

• Oxidation of other Metals (like copper and silver)

Silver (Ag) and Cu lose their lustre by gaining Black and Green coating of silver sulphide and Basic copper carbonate respectively.
Silver Sulphide → Black
Copper Carbonate → CuCO3
Prevention of Rusting of Iron

• By painting
• By greasing or oiling
• By galvanisation {depositing of thin layer of Zn metal on Fe object} more Reactive Zn metal reacts with Atmosphere and form Zinc oxide.