CHEMICAL REACTIONS

AND EQUATIONS
In this chapter, we will learn
1. What is a chemical reaction and what are its characteristics?
2. How to represent a chemical reaction
3. Balancing the chemical reaction
4. Types of chemical reactions with examples
5. Oxidation and Reduction reactions
6. Corrosion and Rancidity
What is a Chemical Reaction?

The process by which chemicals interact to form new chemicals

with different composition is called Chemical Reaction.

Example:
Carbon + Oxygen  Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen + Oxygen  Hydrogen oxide (Water)

Reactants Products
𝐻 2 + 𝑂2 → 𝐻 2 𝑂 𝑍𝑛+ 𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑍𝑛𝐶𝑙 2+ 𝐻 2 ↑
color
and
Evolution of gas
State
of
Change
Characteristic of Chemical
reaction
tate
precipi
Change in ion of
temperature Format

𝐶 + 𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑂 2+ h𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑁𝑎 2 𝑆𝑂 4 +𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂 4 ↓+2 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙

 Chemical
Equation

Unbalanced Balanced
Word
chemical chemical
equation
equation equation
Hydrogen + Oxygen  Water
2 𝐻 2 +𝑂 2 →2 𝐻 2 𝑂

𝐻 2 + 𝑂2 → 𝐻 2 𝑂
Lets balance some chemical equations

𝐹𝑒+ 𝐻 2 𝑂 → 𝐹𝑒 3 𝑂4 + 𝐻 2

Carbon monoxide + hydrogen  Methanol

Hydrogen + Chlorine  Hydrogen chloride

Barium chloride and sodium sulphate in water react to give insoluble barium
sulphate and solution of sodium chloride

𝐻𝑁 𝑂 3 +𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻 )2 → 𝐶𝑎(𝑁 𝑂 3)2 +𝐻 2 𝑂

Potassium bromide + Barium iodide  Potassium iodide + Barium bromide

 A + B  AB + ∆

Combination

AB + CD  AD + CB

Types of AB + ∆  A + B
Double
displacement Chemical Decomposition
Reactions

Displacement
A + BC  AC + B
Chemical Combination A + B  AB + ∆

Two or more reactants combine to form a single new compound.

Slaked lime

𝐶𝑎𝑂 (𝑠)+ 𝐻 2 𝑂 (𝑙)→𝐶𝑎 ( 𝑂𝐻 )2(𝑎𝑞)+ 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡

Quick lime reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide (Slaked lime)
 When this slaked lime gives wash to the walls, due to the reaction
with carbon dioxide it becomes calcium carbonate(marble). This
is called whitewash

𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐻 )2+ 𝐶𝑂 2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂 3 + 𝐻 2 𝑂

Heat is released in this combination reaction, so it is also known as an
Exothermic reaction.

Other examples of exothermic reactions:-

1. Burning of natural gas
2. Respiration process and why it is called an Exothermic process?
3. Methane reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water
4. Decomposition of vegetable matter into compost
 Chemical decomposition AB + ∆  A + B

Single reactant compound is divided into two or more products.

On heating, lead nitrate decomposes to

lead oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen

2 𝑃𝑏 ( 𝑁 𝑂 3 )2 → 2 𝑃𝑏𝑂 + 4 𝑁𝑂 2 +𝑂 2
(Reddish brown fumes)

2 𝐹𝑒 𝑆𝑂 4 → 𝐹𝑒2 𝑂3 +𝑆𝑂 2 +𝑆𝑂 3

(Brown solid substance)

𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂 3 → 𝐶𝑎𝑂+𝐶𝑂 2
Note: All decompositions undergo an Endothermic process
Decomposition by heating is called Thermal Decomposition
 Decomposition done by an electric current is Electrolysis decomposition

2 𝐻 2 𝑂 → 2 𝐻 2+ 𝑂 2

Brainstormer
1. The gas obtained in one test tube is more than that of the other test tube?
2. How can you identify the gases which were released?
3. Why oxygen is collected in an anode whereas hydrogen is collected in cathode
tubes?
Decomposition done by sunlight is called Photo decomposition
Chemical Displacement A + BC  AC + B

𝐹𝑒+𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂 4 → 𝐹𝑒𝑆𝑂 4 +𝐶𝑢

Iron reacts with copper sulphate(crystal blue) to form iron sulphate(pale green) and copper
 Brainstormer
Write the chemical equation for the following
1. Zinc reacts with copper sulphate to form zinc sulphate and copper
2. Lead reacts with copper chloride to form lead chloride and copper

Note:
• Zinc, iron and lead are more reactive elements than copper. They can
displace copper from its compound.

Try this

Copper + zinc sulphate  ?

Give a reason for your answer
 Chemical Double displacement AB + CD  AD + CB

𝑁𝑎 2 𝑆𝑂 4 +𝐵𝑎𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐵𝑎𝑆𝑂 4 ↓+2 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙

Sodium sulphate reacts with barium chloride to form
barium sulphate and sodium chloride
 Brainstormer

When we mix lead(II) nitrate with potassium iodide

1. What is the colour of the precipitate and name that compound
2. Give the balancing chemical equation
3. Is this a double displacement reaction?

𝑃𝑏(𝑁𝑂 3 )2 +2 𝐾𝐼 → 2 𝐾𝑁𝑂 3 +𝑃𝑏 𝐼 2 ↓

Lead(II) nitrate reacts with potassium iodide
to form potassium nitrate and lead iodide.
 Oxidation and Reduction reaction

Copper is oxidized to form copper oxide

2 𝐶𝑢+𝑂 2 → 2 𝐶𝑢𝑂
(Brown) (Black)

When hydrogen gas to added to this heated copper oxide, again copper is obtained.

𝐶𝑢𝑂+ 𝐻 2 → 𝐶𝑢+ 𝐻 2 𝑂
 • The reaction in which oxygen is added or hydrogen is removed is called the
Oxidation reaction
• The reaction in which oxygen is removed or hydrogen is added is called the
Reduction reaction
• The chemical used for oxidation is known as oxidizing agent
• The chemical used for the reduction is known as reducing agent

𝐶𝑢𝑂+ 𝐻 2 → 𝐶𝑢+ 𝐻 2 𝑂
Here copper oxide is reduced to copper
Hydrogen is oxidized to hydrogen oxide
In a chemical reaction, if both oxidation and reduction are there, then it
is said to be Redox reaction.
 Brainstormer

Find out which are oxidized and reduced in the following equations

𝑍𝑛𝑂+𝐶→ 𝑍𝑛+𝐶𝑂
𝑀𝑛𝑂 4 + 4 𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑀𝑛𝐶𝑙2 +2 𝐻 2 𝑂+ 𝐶𝑙 2

Note:
If a substance gains oxygen or loses hydrogen during a reaction, it is oxidized
If a substance loses oxygen or gains hydrogen during a reaction, it is reduced
Corrosion
The metals which get oxidized and form damage are said to be corrosion.
Corrosion causes damage to car bodies, bridges, iron railings, ships and all
objects made up of metal

But how can we prevent it?

1. Preventing moisture
2. Coating with zinc alloy (galvanization)
3. Mixing proportionate metals – Alloying
4. Painting
Rancidity
The process by which food decomposes by the oxidization of
fats and oil present in the food is called Rancidity

To prevent rancidity

1. Food is stored in air-tight containers

2. Food is stored in the refrigerator
3. Chips are flushed with nitrogen gas to prevent
oxidation
4. Anti-oxidants like Vitamins C and D are added
to the food.