Chemical Reactions and Equations - Part 1

Q. What is a chemical reaction?

Ans. A chemical reaction is a chemical change by interaction in two or more substance(s) to form new substance(s).

These interacting substances are called reactants and newly formed substances are called products.

It involves breaking of old bonds and making of new bonds in the presence of heat and light.

Q. How will you identify a chemical reaction has been taken place?

Ans. A chemical reaction can be identified by the following observations:

          Change in color

        Change in State

         Evolution of gas ,water and other substances

         Change in temperature

Q. How can a chemical equation be balanced?

Ans. Hit and Trial method is used to balance a chemical equation.

The basic concept of Hit and Trial method is that the total number of atoms should be maintained on both sides of a chemical equation.

Q. How many kinds of chemicai reactions are there ?

Ans. There are different kinds of chemical reactions. It depends upon the type of chemical change occurred. They are,

·       Decomposition Reaction

·       Combination Reaction

·       Displacement Reaction

·       Neutralization Reaction

·       Oxidation and Reduction Reaction

·       Exothermic and endothermic Reaction

Q. What is a Decomposition reaction?

Ans.  A Decomposition reaction is that chemical reaction in which a compound is broken down and forms two or more products.

For Example

Thermal Decomposition Reaction – In this reaction heat energy is used for decomposition reaction.

 2FeSO4 ____Heat_____> FE2O3 + SO2 + SO3

Q.  What is Displacement Reaction ?

Ans.  Displacement reaction is of two types -

    1. Single Displacement Reaction

It is a reaction wherein a more reactive element displaces less reactive element from the compound.

For example

Zn + CuSo4  -----> ZnSo4 + Cu 

2. Double Displacement Reaction

In this type of reaction two different ions are displaced by one another in the reactant compound.

For example

Fe CuSo4 ----> FeSo4 + Cu

Q. What is neutralisation reaction ?

Ans.  It is that chemical reaction where in an acid reacts to base in purpose of neutralization thus

 It is called neutralization reaction.

NaOH + HCl ---à NaCl + H2O

Q. What is Oxidation Reaction?

Ans.  In Oxidation Reaction either oxygen is added or hydrogen is removed from a compound.

For example

4Na + O2__>  2Na2O

In the above reaction sodium is added to Oxygen and in turn gives out sodium oxide. 

H2 + F2  __> 2HF

Q.  What is Reduction Reaction ?

Ans.  Generally it is a chemical process like the oxidation in reduction reaction either oxygen is removed or hydrogen is added to a substance.

 for example

2NA + H2 -à 2NaH

Q. What are Redox Reactions? Give example.

Ans.  Redox reactions are those reactions wherein oxidation and reduction happen simultaneously.

That is to say, on the one side a substance gains oxygen and loses hydrogen while on the other side a substance loses oxygen and gains hydrogen.

For example:

CuO + H2 ...> Cu + H2O

Let’s understand the above example closely.

1.  Copper oxide and Hydrogen react with one another.

2.  Copper oxide loses oxygen  (Reduction)

3.  Hydrogen gains oxygen   (Oxidation)

Thus two reactions, i.e. Reduction and Oxidation taking place simultaneously. This type of reaction is called Redox reaction.

exothermic reaction

Q. What are exothermic reactions?

 Ans. Exothermic reactions are those reactions which give out energy in the form of heat, light etc.

 For example

C + O2 à CO2 + Energy (393 Kj)

In the above example,

·       Carbon and Oxygen react.

·       The reaction produces Carbon dioxide and liberates 393 Kilojoules of energy.

Q. What is Endothermic reaction?

Ans. Endothermic reaction is that chemical reaction in which energy is absorbed in the form of heat, light etc.

For example

N2 + O2 à 2NO

In the above example,

·       Nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) react.

·       During the reaction process, they absorb some amount (180.5 Kj) of energy.

·       After the reaction, the product we get is Nitric oxide (2NO).

Thus we see while Exothermic reaction liberates energy, Endothermic reaction absorb energy.

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