Class 10

Notes on Chemical Reaction and Equations

Chemical reaction :- The process in which a substance or substances undergo change, to produce new substances
with new properties, is known as chemical reaction.
These are the following changes to determine that the chemical reaction has taken place:
(i) Change in state
(ii) Change in colour
(iii) Evolution of gas
(iv) Change in temperature
It has two part :-
Reactants: The substances which take part in a chemical reaction are called reactants.
Products: The new substances formed as a result of the chemical reaction are called products.
2 Mg O 2 MgO
reactant
+ reactant
 Product
Balanced chemical equation :- A balanced chemical equation occurs when the number of the atoms involved in
the reactants side is equal to the number of atoms in the products side.
(i) Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2
(ii) 3Fe (s) + 4H2O (g) → Fe3O4 (s) + 4H2 (g)
(*Note:- How to balance the chemical eqution?
The steps are as follows
(i)First balance Metal
(ii) Second balance Non metal
(iii) Third balance Hydrogen
(iv)And last balance Oxygen)
Example :- CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2.
Counting the atoms tells you that the equation is unbalanced. The left side has 1 C, 2 H, and 3 O, while the right
side has 6 C, 12 H, and 8 O. Next, per step two, change one coefficient. Try changing the CO 2 coefficient to 6 to
equalize the number of C atoms on each side. Following step three and recounting the atoms, you now have 6 C,
2 H, and 13 O on the left, as well as 6 C, 12 H, and 8 O on the right. Next, balance the H atoms. Change the
coefficient of H2O to 6 so that the left has 6 C, 12 H, and 18 O, while the right still maintains 6 C, 12 H, and 8 O.
Now the only unbalanced aspect is the O atoms. By altering the coefficient of O 2 on the right to become 6, the
right side now has 18 O, which is the same amount that the left has. After a final count, you can confirm that
you’ve balanced the equation as 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.
These three steps—count, change a coefficient, and count again—will enable you to balance any chemical
equation according to the law of conservation of mass.)
Question for practice:-
*****Balance the following equation:
(i)__ SnO2 + __ H2 → __ Sn + __ H2O
(ii) __ KOH + __ H3PO4 → __ K3PO4 + __ H2O
(iii) __ KNO3 + __ H2CO3 → __ K2CO3 + __ HNO3
(iv) __ Na3PO4 + __ HCl → __ NaCl + __ H3PO4
(v) __ C2H6O + __ O2 → __ CO2 + __ H2O

Types of chemical reaction

→ Combination reaction: Such a reaction in which a single product is formed from two or more reactants is
known as a combination reaction.
CaO (s) + H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq)
Calcium oxide reacts vigorously with water to produce slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) releasing a large amount
of heat.
Burning of coal: C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (aq)
 Formation of water: H2 (g) + O2 (g) → H2O (aq)
Burning of Magnesium: 2Mg(s) + O2  2MgO
Calcium oxide reacts with water: CaO + H2O  Ca(OH)2
Exothermic Reaction: - Exothermic means to give off heat. The prefix exo- means out, leave, or exit; and the root
them refers to heat energy. An exothermic reaction then, is a chemical reaction system that releases heat during
the reaction process.
 Decomposition reaction: Those reactions in which a single substance (reactant) splits up into two or
more simpler substances (products) are known as decomposition reactions.
These reactions are carried out by supplying energy in form of heat, electricity or light which breaks that
substance into simpler substances.
Types of decomposition reactions are:
1. Electrolysis 2. Thermal Decomposition 3. Photochemical Decomposition
1. Electrolysis: The decomposition reactions which are carried out by using electricity, are called electrolytic
decomposition reactions (or electrolysis).
Example: 1. Electrolytic decomposition of water or electrolysis of water
electric
2H2O > 2H2(g) + O2(g)
current
Volume of hydrogen collected is double as that of oxygen because two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of
oxygen makeup one molecule of water (H2O).
Example: 2. Electrolytic decomposition of molten sodium chloride: On passing electric current through
molten sodium chloride, it decomposes to give sodium metal and chlorine gas :
electric
2NaCl > 2Na + Cl2
current
Example: 3 Electrolytic decomposition of molten alumina (aluminium oxide): On passing electric
current through molten alumina, it decomposes to give aluminium metal and oxygen gas :
electric
2Al2O3 >¿ 4Al + 3O2
current
2. Thermal Decomposition:- Decomposition reactions which are carried out by heating are called thermal
decomposition reactions.
Ex 1.Thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate
2 FeSO 4 Heat
> Fe2O3 + SO2 + SO3
Green ∆
(heating anhydrous ferrous sulphate decomposes to brown solid (which is ferric oxide) along with characteristic
smell of burning sulphur.)
Ex 2. Thermal decomposition of Lead nitrate
Heat 2 PbO 4 NO 2
2Pb(NO3)2 > + + O2
∆ Yellow Brown fumes
3. Photo-decomposition reactions The decomposition reactions which take place by absorption of light are
called the photo-decomposition reactions or photolysis.

2AgCl ⟶ 2Ag(s) + Cl2(g)

Ex 1. Photo-decomposition of silver chloride

white silver chloride turns gray due to formation of silver metal.

2AgBr ⟶ 2Ag(s) + Br2(g)

Ex2. Photo-decomposition of silver bromide

yellow silver bromide turns gray due to formation of silver metal.

2AgI ⟶ 2Ag(s) + I2(g)

Ex3. Photo-decomposition of silver iodide

Greenish yellow silver bromide turns gray due to formation of silver metal.
3. Displacment Reaction: Those reaction in which more reactive element can displace less reactive
element from a compound are displacement reaction.
Examples of Displacement Reaction
 The reaction between hydrochloric acid and zinc:
2HCl(aq)+Zn(s)→ZnCl2(aq)+H2(g)
  The reaction between sodium chloride and fluorine:
2NaCl(aq)+F2(g)→2NaF(s)+Cl2(g)
 The reaction between calcium iodide and chlorine:
CaI2(s)+Cl2(g)→CaCl2(s)+l2(s)
 The reaction between calcium and fluoride, and bromine:
CaF2(s)+Br2(ℓ)→CaBr2(s)+F2(g)
Uses of Displacement Reaction
1. Welding using Thermite
The railway joints are welded together using an alloy of aluminium (Al) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3).
2Al + Fe2O3 → Al2O3 + 2Fe
2. Iron Ore Extraction
By reacting with the carbon, iron may be removed from its ore.
3C + 2Fe2O3 → 4Fe + 3CO2
3. Metals are Extracted
The other metals, such as chromium, can be extracted via a displacement reaction.
3C+ 2Cr2O3 → 4Cr + 3CO2
4. Neutralisation of Acids
The indigestion is caused by the production of HCl acid in our stomach. An antacids are made up of a
base that causes a displacement response in the body.
Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl → MgCl2 + 2H2O
4. Double Displacement Reaction: Double displacement reactions usually occur when a
part of two ionic compounds is exchanged and makes the two new components.(In this
reaction insoluble substance is formed so it is also called precipitation reaction.)
Examples of Double Displacement Reaction
 The reaction between silver nitrate and sodium chloride:
AgNO3 + NaCl → AgCl + NaNO3
 The reaction between sodium chloride and calcium sulphate:
2NaCl + CaSO4→Na2SO4 + CaCl

H2SO4 + 2LiOH ⇄ LiO2SO4 + 2H2O

 The reaction between sulphuric acid and lithium hydroxide:

AgNO3 + HCl ⇄ AgCl + HNO3

 The reaction between silver nitrate and hydrochloric acid:

Pb(NO3)2 + 2NaCl ⇄ 2NaNO3 + PbCl

 The reaction between lead(II) nitrate and sodium chloride:

 The reaction between the hydrochloric acid and the sodium hydroxide:
HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H2O

#*Oxidation:- Oxidation is a process which involves the addition of oxygen or any electronegative element or the
removal of hydrogen or any electropositive element.
According to electronic concept oxidation is defined as the process in which an atom or ion loses one or more
electrons.
1. Addition of oxygen:
C + O2 → CO2 (oxidation of carbon)
2. Addition of electronegative element:
Fe + S → FeS (oxidation of Iron)
3. Removal of hydrogen:
H2S + Br2 → 2 HBr + S (oxidation of sulphide)
4. Removal of electropositive elements:
2 KI + H2O2 → I2 + 2 KOH (oxidation of iodide)
Oxidising agent is a substance which brings about oxidation. In the above examples O2, S, Cl2, Br2,
and H2O2 are oxidising agents.
Reduction :- reduction is a process which involves the addition of hydrogen or any electropositive element or the
removal of oxygen or any electronegative element.
According to electronic concept reduction is defined as the process in which an atom or ion gains one or more
electrons.
1. Addition of hydrogen:
N2 + 3 H2 → 2NH3 ( reduction of nitrogen)
2. Addition of electropositive element:
SnCl2 + 2HgCl2 → SnCl4 + Hg2Cl2 ( reduction of mercuric chloride)
3. Removal of oxygen
ZnO + C → Zn + CO (reduction of zinc oxide)
4. Removal of electronegative element
2FeCl3 + H2 → 2FeCl2 + 2HCl (reduction of ferric chloride)
Reducing agent is a substance which brings about reduction. In the above examples H2, HgCl2 and C are
Reducing agents.
(Note: A substance, which undergoes oxidation, acts as a reducing agent while a substance, which
undergoes reduction, acts as an oxidising agent.)

Redox reaction:-one reactant gets oxidised while the other gets reduced during a reaction. Such reactions are
called oxidation-reduction reactions or redox reactions.
1. PbO(s)Lead oxide + H2(g)Hydrogen → Pb(s)Lead + H2O(l)Water
In the above reaction, hydrogen is oxidized to water and lead oxide is reduced to lead.
2. The combustion of methane can be expressed using the chemical equation given below.
CH4(g) + 2O2(g) --> CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
Oxygen (O2) is reduced and the other elements carbon and hydrogen are oxidised during combustions. O2 is the
most common oxidising agent on Earth due to its abundance in the atmosphere.
Example:-
1. Fe2O3 + 2Al  Al2O3 + 2Fe
2. Zn + CuSO4  ZnSO4 + Cu

****These are just a few names of compounds, what color they are, their special characteristics (if any), etc. You'll
find this information useful in Acids, Bases, and Salts; Analytical Chemistry; and in the differentiate between two
salt/acids/compounds questions. -->
PbCl2 - white chalky ppt; insoluble in cold water, soluble in hot water.
--> AgCl - white curdy ppt; insoluble in hot and cold water
--> ZnO/PbO - yellow when hot, white when cold
--> BaSO4 - white ppt; insoluble in all dilute mineral acids
--> PbSO4 - white ppt; insoluble on heating (or when hot)
--> Zn(NO3 )2 – white --> CuSO4 .5H2O – blue
--> CuSO4 (after losing water of crystallization) - white amorphous
--> CuCO3 – green --> Cu - reddish/pink deposit
--> CuO - black --> MnO2 - black
--> FeCl3 - reddish brown; NOTE: Name a reddish brown deliquescent salt (always FeCl3 )
--> FeSO4 - dirty green --> KMNO4 - purple/violet
--> K2Cr2O7 - orange List of Gases: --> I2 - violet
--> Br2 - reddish/brownish gas --> NO2 - reddish brown gas
--> Cl2 - greenish yellow gas; NOTE: NOT yellowish green --> SO2 - burning sulphur smell
--> NH3 - green flame when burnt in oxygen
--> NH3 , HCl, CO2 , SO2 - colorless gas with pungent odor --> HNO3 (pure) – colorless
--> HNO3 (in sunlight) - yellow List of Colored Ions: --> Cupric Cu2+ - Blue
--> Chromium Cr3+ - Dark green --> Nickel Ni2+ - Green
2+
--> Ferrous Fe - Light green --> Ferric Fe3+ - Brown
2+
--> Manganese Mn - Light pink --> Cobalt Co2+ - Pinkish violet
4-
--> Permanganate MnO - Pink --> Chromate CrO4 2- - Yellow
2- -
--> Dichromate Cr2O7 Orangish yellow
NOTE: All salts of Na, K, NH4 are white