CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND EQUATIONS
Any process that involves the rearrangement
of structure of the substance or conversion of
reactants into products is defined as Chemical
Reaction.
For a Chemical Reaction to occur, the
change can be observed in the form of -
• Change in State: Melting of ice into
water.
• Change in Colour: Iron rusting which
has colour change from silver to reddish
brown.
• Change in Temperature: There are two
types of reaction i.e Exothermic and
Endothermic Reaction.
Exothermic Reactions: Those reactions in
which energy is released in the form of heat
are called Exothermic Reactions.
Examples -
(1) All combustion reactions e.g.
CH4+ 2O2 —> CO2 + 2H2O + Heat
(2) Thermite reactions e.g.
2A1 + Fe2O3 —> 2Fe + Al 2O3 + Heat
Combinations are generally exothermic in
nature. The decomposition of organic matters
into compost is an example of exothermic
reaction.
Endothermic Reactions: Those reactions in
which energy is absorbed are
called Endothermic Reactions.
Examples -
also, the reaction of photosynthesis -
• Evolution of any gas: When Zinc
reacts with sulphuric acid it gives
hydrogen gas.
Zn + H2 SO4 → ZnSO 4 + H2
Formation of Precipitate: When a soluble
carbonate reacts with Barium, Barium
Carbonate precipitate can be observed.
Change in State
Some chemical reactions are characterized by
a change in state.
• When wax is burned (in the form of wax
candle,) then water and carbon dioxide
are formed.
• Now, wax is a liquid whereas carbon
dioxide is a gas. This means that during
the combustion reaction of wax, the
physical state changes from solid to
liquid and gas.
Physical Change
• In this change identity of the substance
remains same.
• For Example, Melting, Boiling etc.
Chemical Change
• The identity of the substances change
• Reactants are converted into substance
due to formation or broken down of older
bonds
Chemical Equation
The symbolic representation of chemical
reaction using symbols and formulae is known
as Chemical Equation. For this, reactants are
written in left hand side whereas products are
written on the right.
Balanced Chemical Equation
A balanced chemical equation is the one
where the number of atoms involved in
reactants side is equal to number of atoms on
product side.
Eq.1. Example of Balanced Chemical
Equation
Steps to form Balanced Equation
To show how to balance the equation, the
following equation is used-
Fe + H 2O → Fe 3O4 + H2
Step 1: First of all, draw the boxes around
each formula as shown below-
Step 2: Find out the number of atoms of each
element. For Example, on reactant side, 1 for
Fe, 2 H, and 1 O and on product side we have,
3 for Fe, 4 for O and 2 for H.
Step 3: Start to balance the equation with the
compound having maximum number of atoms.
While balancing does not alter the formula of
the compound.
Step 4: One by one balance each element on
reactant and product side.
Step 5: After balancing number of atoms on
both the side of the equation, finally check the
correctness of the balanced equation.
Step 6: then write the symbols of the physical
state of reactants and products as shown
below-
3Fe(s) + 4H2O (g) → Fe3O4 (s) + 4H2 (g)
This above equation represents the balanced
equation.
Balancing a Redox Reaction
The basic ionic form of the equation is-
Fe2+ + Cr2O72- → Fe3+ + Cr3+
Oxidation half reaction is-
Reduction half reaction is-
Use the reduction half method to balance the
equation. Balance the atoms in each half of
the reaction except H and O atoms.
Cr2O72- (aq) → 2 Cr 3+(aq)
Add water molecules as the reaction is taking
place in acidic solution. This is to balance the
O atoms and hydrogen ions.
Cr2O72- (aq) + 14 H +(aq) → 2 Cr3+(aq) +
7H2O (I)
Then balance the charges in both half
reactions.
Fe2+(aq) → Fe 3+(aq) + e-
Cr2O72- (aq) + 14 H + + 6e- → 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O
6 Fe2+(aq) → 6 Fe 3+(aq) + 6e-
Two half of the equations are added to get the
overall reaction
6Fe2+(aq) + Cr 2O72-(aq) + 14H +(aq) →
6Fe3+(aq) + 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O (I)
Types of Chemical Reaction
• Combination Reaction is reaction when
single product is formed from the
combination of two or more
reactants. For Example-
Eq.2. Example of Combination Reaction
Reactions can be exothermic as well as
endothermic. Exothermic reaction release
heats and raises the temperature of the
surroundings. For Example, Respiration is an
example of exothermic reaction.
Eq.3. Example of Exothermic Reaction
Endothermic reaction involved the absorption
of the heat and thus it cools the surrounding.
The decomposition of dead organic material is
an endothermic reaction.
• Decomposition Reaction is type of
reaction which involves breakdown of
single reactant into simpler products.
Decomposition of silver chloride into
silver and chlorine in presence of
sunlight is an example of decomposition
reaction.
Eq.4. Example of Decomposition Reaction
• Displacement Reaction is a reaction in
which more reactive element will displaces
the less reactive element.
Eq. 5. Example of Displacement Reaction
• Double Displacement Reaction is a type
of reaction in which cations and anions
in the reactants switch the places to form
new products.
Eq. 6. Example of Double Displacement
Reaction
• Redox Reaction is also known
as Oxidation-reduction Reaction. In
this type of reaction transfer of electrons
occurs between the two species.
Oxidation is defined as addition of
oxygen or removal of hydrogen.
Reduction is defined as removal of
oxygen or addition of hydrogen.
Oxidizing agent is the one which gains
the electrons and is reduced in a
chemical reaction. Reducing agent is
oxidized in a chemical reaction and it
loses the electrons. Fluorine is the
strongest oxidizing agent. Formic acid is
a reducing agent
Eq.7. Example of Redox Reaction
Corrosion
Metals are prone to corrosion. It is a slow
conversion of metals into some undesirable
compounds. This occur may be due to reaction
with oxygen, gases, acids etc. When irons
reacts with atmospheric oxygen and moisture,
a red layer is formed on the surface of the
iron, this process is known as Rusting.
Eq. 8. Equation for Iron Rusting
Rancidity
When food containing fats and oils are
exposed to the atmosphere, the oxidation of
fat and oil occurs, this is known as Rancidity.
Methods to Prevent Rancidity
• Store cooking oils from direct sunlight.
• Food should be placed at low
temperature.
• By adding antioxidants food can be
protected from rancidity.
• Packing material should replace the air
with nitrogen.
• Minimize the use of salts in fried foods.
