CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND

EQUATIONS

 ABU TALHA
CHEMISTRY
(MGS)
 what is actually meant by a chemical reaction ?
Chemical reactions are the processes in which new substances
with new properties are formed.
During a chemical reaction, atoms of one element do not change
into those of another element. Only a rearrangement of atoms
takes place between the reacting substances to form new
substances having entirely different properties.
Example: 2Mg + O2 2MgO + heat
Pb(NO3)2 + KI PbI2 ( ) + K(NO3)
Zn + dil. 2HCl
ZnCl2 + H2(g)
 Burning of magnesium ribbon
The magnesium ribbon which we use
usually has a coating of ‘magnesium
oxide’ on its surface which is formed
by the slow action of oxygen of air on
it. So, before burning in air, the
magnesium 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
You must have observed that magnesium ribbon burns with a dazzling
white flame and changes into a white powder. This powder is magnesium
oxide. It is formed due to the reaction between magnesium and oxygen
present in the air.
How do we come to know that a chemical reaction has taken place?
the following observations helps us to determine whether a chemical
reaction has taken place –
 evolution of a gas :- when zinc granules react with dilute sulphuric acid,
then bubbles of hydrogen gas are produced.

 change in colour :- chemical reaction between SO2 gas and acidified

potassium dichromate solution is characterised by a change in colour from
orange to green.
 change in state :- combustion reaction of candle wax is characterised by a
change in state from solid to liquid and gas.
 change in temperature:- reaction between quicklime and water to form
slaked lime is characterised by a change in temperature.

 Formation of precipitate:- the chemical reaction between potassium iodide

and lead nitrate is characterised by the formation of a yellow precipitate of
lead iodide.
We will now discuss reactants and products of a chemical reaction.
(i) The substances which take part in a chemical reaction are called
reactants.
(ii)(ii) The new substances produced as a result of chemical reaction are
called products.
1.1 CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
The method of representing a chemical reaction with the help of symbols
and formulae of the substances involved in it is known as a chemical
equation
Zinc + Sulphuric acid  Zinc sulphate + Hydrogen

The arrow indicates the direction of reaction.

a chemical equation is a short-hand method of representing a chemical reaction.
Balanced and Unbalanced Chemical Equations
1. A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms of different elements in
the reactants and products

a balanced chemical equation has equal masses of various elements in reactants and
products

Mg + O2 MgO
2. An unbalanced chemical equation has an unequal number of atoms of
one or more elements in the reactants and products.

an unbalanced equation has unequal masses of various elements in reactants and products.
 Balancing of Chemical Equations
To make the number of different types of atoms equal in reactants and products is known
as balancing of an equation. It should be noted that the chemical equations are balanced
to satisfy the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions because according to the
law of conservation of mass, “matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a
chemical reaction”
Let us try to balance the following chemical equation –
Fe + H2O → Fe3O4 + H2 The chemical equations can be made more
informative in three ways :
1. By indicating the “physical states” of the
reactants and products.
2. By indicating the “heat changes” taking
place in the reaction.
3. By indicating the “conditions” under which
the reaction takes place.
 →try to balance it
CO(g) + H2 (g) → CH3 OH(l)

CO2 (aq) + H2O → C6H12O6 (aq) + O2 + H2 O(l)

We should remember the following four steps for writing equations for the chemical
reactions :

First step : Write down the chemical reaction in the form of a word equation, keeping the
reactants on the left side and products on the right side.

Second step : Put the symbols and formulae of all the reactants and products in the word
equation.

Third step : Balance the equation by multiplying the symbols and formulae by the smallest
possible figures (Do not change the formulae to balance the equation).

Fourth step : If possible, make the equation more informative by indicating the physical
states of reactants and products ; by indicating the heat changes, if any, taking place in the
reaction ; and by indicating the conditions under which the reaction takes place. If,
however, you do not have sufficient information regarding the physical states ; heat
changes and conditions of the reaction, this step may be avoided.
 1.2 TYPES OF CHEMICAL
REACTIONS
1.2.1 Combination Reaction
Those reactions in which
two or more substances
combine to form a single
substance, are called
combination reactions.
In Activity 1.4, we also observed that a large amount of heat is evolved. This makes the
reaction mixture warm.
Reactions in which heat is released along with the formation of products are called
exothermic chemical reactions.
Other examples of exothermic reactions are –
(i) Burning of natural gas
CH4 (g) + 2O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g) + heat

(ii) Do you know that respiration is an exothermic process?

C6H12O6 (aq) + 6O2 (aq) → 6CO2 (aq) + 6H2O(l) + energy
(Glucose)

(iii) The decomposition of vegetable matter into compost is also an example of an exothermic
reaction.

organic matter + micro organism + oxygen → carbon dioxide +water +heat +

humus
 2. DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS
Those reactions in which a compound splits up into two or more simpler
substances are known as decomposition reactions

AB A + B
 decomposition reaction is just the opposite of a combination
reaction.
 The decomposition reactions are carried out by applying heat, light or
electricity.

 There are three types of decompotion reaction.

1. Thermal decomposition
2. Photolytic decomposition
3. Electrolytic decomposition
EXAMPLE
When ferrous sulphate is heated strongly, it decomposes to form ferric oxide, sulphur
dioxide and sulphur trioxide
2FeSO4 (s) (Heat)  Fe2O3 (s) + SO2 (g) + SO3
(g)
Ferrous sulphate Ferric oxide Sulphur
Sulphur
(Green colour) (Brown colour) dioxide
trioxide

the green colour of ferrous sulphate changes to brown due to the formation of ferric oxide.
A smell of burning sulphur is obtained due to the formation of sulphur dioxide gas.
ferrous sulphate heptahydrate, FeSO4.7H2O. They contain 7 molecules of water of
crystallisation. These crystals are green in colour. When the green coloured ferrous
sulphate heptahydrate crystals (FeSO4.7H2O) are heated, they first lose 7 molecules of
water of crystallisation to form anhydrous ferrous sulphate (FeSO4) which is white in
colour. And then this anhydrous ferrous sulphate decomposes.
note that ferrous sulphate is also known as iron (II) sulphate (or just iron sulphate). And
ferric oxide is also known as iron (III) oxide.
 EXAMPLES
When a decomposition reaction is carried out by heating, it is called thermal
decomposition.

Decomposition of calcium carbonate to calcium oxide and carbon dioxide on

heating is an important decomposition reaction used in various industries.
Calcium oxide is called lime or quick lime.
It has many uses – one is in the manufacture of cement.

CaCO3 (s) (Heat) → CaO(s) + CO2 (g)

(Limestone) (Quick
lime)
 Another example of thermal decomposition reaction

When lead nitrate is heated strongly, it breaks down to form simpler

substances like lead monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. This can be
written as :

2Pb(NO3 ) 2 (s) (Heat) → 2PbO(s) + 4NO2 (g) + O2 (g)

(Lead nitrate) (Lead oxide)
(Nitrogen (Oxygen)
dioxide)
(Colourless) (Yellow)
(Brown fumes)
those decomposition reactions which are carried out by using electricity, called
electrolytic decomposition.
Examples of electrolytic decomposition
When electric current is passed through molten sodium chloride, it
decomposes to give sodium metal and chlorine gas :
2NaCl (l) Electricity (Decomposition)  2Na (s) + Cl2 (g)
Sodium chloride
Sodium metal Chlorine gas (Molten)

. When electric current is passed through molten aluminium oxide, it

decomposes to give aluminium metal and oxygen gas :
2Al2O3 (l) Electricity (Decomposition)  4Al (l) + 3O2 (g)
Aluminium oxide
Aluminium metal Oxygen gas (Molten)
Photolytic decomposition reaction: which are brought about by light energy.

Silver bromide also behaves in the same way.

2AgBr(s) (Sunlight)  →  2Ag(s) + Br2 (g)
The above reactions are used in black and white photography .
What form of energy is causing these decomposition reactions?
We have seen that the decomposition reactions require energy either in the
form of heat, light or electricity for breaking down the reactants.
Reactions in which energy is absorbed are known as endothermic reactions.
. Uses of Decomposition Reactions. The decomposition reactions carried
out by electricity are used to extract several metals from their naturally
occurring compounds like chlorides or oxides.
. For example, sodium metal is extracted by the electrolysis of molten
sodium chloride whereas aluminium metal is extracted by the electrolysis of
molten aluminium oxide.
Decomposition Reactions in Our Body. The digestion of food in the body
is an example of decomposition reaction. When we eat foods like wheat, rice
or potatoes, then the starch present in them decomposes to give simple
sugars like glucose in the body; and the proteins decompose to form amino
acids.
The following chemical reaction takes place in this Activity–
Fe(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → FeSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
(Copper sulphate) (Iron sulphate)
In this reaction, iron has displaced or removed another element, copper,
from copper sulphate solution. This reaction is known as displacement
 3. DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS
Those reactions in which one element takes the place of another element
in a compound, are known as displacement reactions.

Other examples of displacement reactions are

 Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)
(Copper sulphate) (Zinc sulphate)
 Pb(s) + CuCl2 (aq) → PbCl2 (aq) + Cu(s)
(Copper chloride) (Lead chloride)
Zinc and lead are more reactive elements than copper. They displace
copper from its compounds.
 4. DOUBLE DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS
Those reactions in which two compounds react by an exchange of ions to form two new
compounds are called double displacement reactions.
 AgNO3 (aq) + NaCl (aq) → AgCl (s) + NaNO3 (aq)
Silver nitrate Sodium chloride Silver chloride Sodium nitrate
(White ppt.)

The white precipitate of BaSO4 is formed by the reaction of SO4 2– and Ba2+. The
other product formed is sodium chloride which remains in the solution.
Any reaction in which an insoluble solid (called precipitate) is formed that separates from
the solution is called a precipitation reaction.

Example
 . If barium chloride solution is added to copper sulphate solution, then a white
precipitate of barium sulphate is produced alongwith copper chloride solution :
BaCl2 (aq) + CuSO4 (aq)  BaSO4 (s) +
CuCl2 (aq)
Barium chloride Copper sulphate Barium sulphate
Copper chloride

(White ppt.)
 When hydrogen sulphide gas is passed through copper sulphate solution, then a black
precipitate of copper sulphide is formed alongwith sulphuric acid solution :
CuSO4 (aq) + H2S (g)  CuS (s)
+ H2SO4 (aq)
Copper sulphate Hydrogen sulphide Copper sulphide
Sulphuric acid
 5. OXIDATION AND REDUCTION REACTIONS
 concept of oxidation and reduction is based on the addition or removal of
oxygen or hydrogen
 Oxidation : (i) The addition of oxygen to a substance is called oxidation.
(ii) The removal of hydrogen from a substance is also called
oxidation.
 Reduction : (i) The addition of hydrogen to a substance is called reduction.
(ii) The removal of oxygen from a substance is also
called reduction.
 Oxidising agent :(i) The substance which gives oxygen for oxidation is called an
oxidising agent.
(ii) The substance which removes hydrogen is also called an
oxidising agent.
 Reducing agent :(i) The substance which gives hydrogen for reduction is called a
reducing agent.
(ii) The substance which removes oxygen is also called a
 The oxidation and reduction reactions are also called redox reactions (In the name
reducing agent.
‘redox’, the term ‘red’ stands for ‘reduction’ and ‘ox’ stands for oxidation). We will now
give some examples of oxidation and reduction reactions.

Example 1. When copper oxide is heated with hydrogen, then copper metal and water are
formed :
CuO + H2  (Heat)  Cu
+ H2O
Copper oxide Hydrogen
copper oxideWater
Copper is being reduced to copper
hydrogen is being oxidised to water.
. When copper is heated in air, it reacts with the oxygen of air to form a black compound
copper oxide :
2Cu + O2 Heat  2CuO
Copper Oxygen Copper oxide
(Red-brown) (From air) (Black)

The surface of copper powder becomes coated with black copper(II) oxide. Why has this
black substance formed? This is because oxygen is added to copper and copper oxide is
formed.

CuO + H2 Heat  Cu + H2O

Copper oxide Hydrogen Copper Water
(Black) (Red-brown)
If hydrogen gas is passed over this heated material (CuO), the black coating on the surface
turns brown as the reverse reaction takes place and copper is obtained.

Some other examples of redox reactions are:

ZnO + C → + Zn + CO
MnO2 + 4HCl → MnCl2 + 2H2O + Cl 2
carbon is oxidised to CO and ZnO is reduced to Zn.
 THE EFFECTS OF OXIDATION REACTIONS IN
EVERYDAY LIFE?
there are two common effects of oxidation reactions which we observe in
daily life. These are : 1. Corrosion of metals , and 2. Rancidity of food .
Corrosion is the process in which metals are eaten up gradually by the action of air,
moisture or a chemical (such as an acid) on their surface. Corrosion is caused mainly by
the oxidation of metals by the oxygen of air.

Rusting of iron metal is the most common form of corrosion. When an iron object is left in
damp air for a considerable time, it gets covered with a red-brown flaky substance called
‘rust’. This is called rusting of iron.
4Fe + 3O2 + 2xH2O
2Fe2O3.xH2O
Iron Oxygen Water Hydrated iron (III) oxide
(Rust)

The rusting of iron is a redox reaction

. Corrosion weakens the iron and steel objects and structures such as railings, car bodies,
bridges and ships, etc., and cuts short their life.
 RANCIDITY
Oxidation also has damaging effect on foods containing fats and oils. When the food
materials prepared in fats and oils are kept for a long time, they start giving unpleasant
smell and taste, unpleasant smell and taste are said to have become rancid.
The condition produced by aerial oxidation of fats and oils in foods marked by unpleasant
smell and taste is called rancidity.

The development of rancidity of food can be prevented :

1. Rancidity can be prevented by adding anti-oxidants to foods containing fats and oils.
. The two common anti-oxidants used in foods to prevent the development of rancidity are
BHA (Butylated Hydroxy-Anisole) and BHT (Butylated Hydroxy-Toluene).
2. . Rancidity can be prevented by packaging fat and oil containing foods in nitrogen gas.
3. . Rancidity can be retarded by keeping food in a refrigerator
4. Rancidity can be retarded by storing food in air-tight containers.
5. Rancidity can be retarded by storing foods away from light.

THANKS