Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.

Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

IMPORTANT TERMS
RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS:
It is the mass of an atom of an element as compared to the mass of an atom of carbon
taken as 12.

ISOTOPES:
The atoms of same element having same atomic number but different mass number thus
different physical properties are called isotopes.

RELATIVE ABUNDANCE:
The amount of an isotope relative to other isotopes occurring in natural sample of element
is called relative abundance.

MASS SPECTROMETER & MASS SPECTROMETRY:

An instrument which is used to determined numbers of isotopes, exact atomic masses of
isotopes and relative abundance of isotopes is called mass spectrometer and technique is
called mass spectrometry.

COMBUSTION ANALYSIS:
The experimental technique of analytical chemistry by which amount of different elements
present in a compound is determined by burning it in excess of oxygen.

MOLE:
The atomic mass, molecular mass, formula mass and ionic mass of respective particle
expressed in grams is called one mole of that particle.

AVOGADRO`S NUMBER:
Avogadro`s number is the number of atoms, molecules and ions in one gram atom of an
element, one gram molecule of a compound and one gram ion of a substance, respectively.

MOLAR VOLUME:
It is volume occupied by 1 mole of an ideal gas at 0℃ temperature and 1 atm pressure
(STP).

STOICHIOMETRY:
It is the branch of chemistry which deals with quantitative relationship between reactants
and products in a balanced chemical equation.

LIMITING REACTANT:
The reactant which controls or determines the amount of product formed in a chemical
reaction due to its smaller amount is called limiting reactant.

YIELD:

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Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

The amount of the product obtained by performing a chemical reaction is called yield.

Q. Why the actual yield is always less than the theoretical yield?
Ans: REASONS:
Actual yield of a chemical reaction is always less than theoretical yield. The reasons are
i. Inexperienced worker wastes a significant amount product.
ii. By product reduces desired product by taking part in side reactions.
iii. The reversible reactions never go to completion.
iv. Product is lost during separation and purification process. e.g. filtration, distillation,
crystallization etc.

Q. N2 and CO Have the same number of electrons, protons and neutrons? Explain.
Ans: EXPLAINATION:
The elements of C, N and O are represented as 126𝐶 , 147𝑁 and 168𝑂
Thus,
1 molecules of N2 consists electrons =7+7 =14 (7 for each N)

1 molecules of CO consists electrons =6+8 =14 (C=6, O=8)

Similarly,
1 molecule of N2 consists neutrons =7+7 =14 (7 for each N)

1 molecule of CO consists neutrons =6+8 =14 (C=6, O=8)

And
1 molecule of N2 consists protons =7+7 =14 (7 for each N)

1 molecule of CO consists protons =6+8 =14 (C=6, O=8)

Q. What is the relationship between empirical formula and molecular formula?

OR
Define empirical formula. How it is related to molecular formula?
Ans: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN E.F AND M.F:
The molecular formula of a compound is the simple integral multiple of empirical
formula.

MATHEMATICAL FORM:
Molecular formula = n (Empirical formula)

Where n is simple integer. It is obtained as

𝑴𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔
n=
𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔

Q. No individual neon atom in sample of the element has a mass of 20.18 a.m.u? Give
reason.

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Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

Ans: REASON:
A natural sample of neon contains 20 21 22
10𝑁𝑒 , 10𝑁𝑒 and 10𝑁𝑒 in the %age of 92.92%,
0.26% and 8.82% respectively. The average relative mass of Ne is therefore as follows
(20 ×90.92) + (21 ×0.26) +(22 ×8.820)
Average atomic mass = = 20.18
100

Hence, 20.18 a.m.u is the average atomic mass of neon and no individual neon atom in
sample of neon has a mass of 20.18 a.m.u.

Q. What is the function of ion collector or electrometer in mass spectrometer?

Ans: FUNCTION OF ELECTROMETER:
The function of electrometer is to collect the ions of definite m/e value in form of
groups of different radii to measure respective current strengths for each. These current
strengths in form of peaks give relative abundance of each isotope.

Q. What is the justification of two strong peaks in the mass spectrometer for bromine;
while for iodine only one peak at 127 a.m.u is indicated?
Ans: REASON:
 Bromine has two naturally occurring stable isotopes with nearly equal abundance;
therefore, its mass spectrum shows two strong peaks.
 Whereas, iodine has only one naturally occurring isotope, therefore, its spectrum
shows only one peak

Q. Define stoichiometry and write down its basic assumptions?

OR
Write two assumptions of stoichiometry.
Ans: STOICHIOMETRY:
“The branch of chemistry which deals with the quantitative relationship between
reactants and products in balanced chemical equation.”

ASSUMPTIONS OF STOICHIOMETRY:
The assumptions assumed in stoichiometry are as follows
i. All the reactants are converted into the products.
ii. No side reaction occurs.

Q. What are the molecular ions? How are they produced?

Ans: MOLECULAR IONS:
“A species formed by lose or gain of electron by a molecule is called molecular ion.”

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 Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

EXAMPLE:

Examples of molecular ions are 𝐶𝐻4+ , 𝑁2+ etc.

PRODUCTION:

These ions can be produced by passing high energy electron beam, 𝛼-particles or X-
rays through a gas.

Q. Concept of limiting reactant is not applicable to reversible reactions. Explain it with one
example.
Ans: LIMITING REACTANT IN REVERSIBLE REACTIONS:
To determine a limiting reactant, the condition is that all reactants should be
converted into product. While in a reversible reaction, there is no completion of reaction.
Therefore, concept of limiting reactant is not applicable.

Q. Write down the steps required to find the empirical formula of a compound.
Ans: DETERMINATION OF EMPIRICAL FORMULA:
Empirical formula of a compound can be determined by following procedure
i. Determination of the %age composition.
ii. Find the number of gram atoms of each element by dividing the mass of each element
by its atomic mass.
iii. Determine the atomic ratio of each element by dividing the number of moles of each
element by the smallest number of moles.
iv. If atomic ratio is simple whole number, it gives empirical formula, otherwise, multiply
it with suitable integer to get simple whole number ratio.

Q. Explain the term molar volume with example.

Ans: MOLAR VOLUME:
“The volume occupied by one mole of a gas at standard temperature and pressure

(STP) is called molar volume.”

VALUE:

Its value at STP is 22.414 dm3 for 1 mole of an ideal gas.

EXAMPLE:

For example, 1 mole H2 (2.016g of H2) at STP occupies 22.414 dm3 volume.

Q. Mg atom is twice heavier than of carbon. Explain it.

Ans: Mg is twice heavier than of carbon.
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Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

REASON:
One atom of C has 6 neutrons and 6 protons in its nucleus and its atomic mass is 12
a.m.u.
On the other hand, one atom of Mg has 12 neutrons and 12 protons in its nucleus and
24 𝑎𝑚𝑢
its atomic mass is 24 a.m.u. Thus, = 2. Hence, one atom of Mg is twice heavier than one
12 𝑎𝑚𝑢
atom of C.

Q. How will you identify a limiting reactant?

Ans: DETERMINATION OF LIMITING REACTANT:
The amount of product formed in a chemical reaction is calculated from limiting reactant.
Following procedure is used for this
i. Number of moles of each reactant is calculated from given mass.
ii. Using balance chemical equation, amount of product, formed by each reactant is
calculated.
iii. The reactant, which gives least amount of product, is limiting reactant.

Q. 23g of Sodium and 238g of Uranium have equal number of atoms in them. Justify.
Ans: 23g of Na and 238g of U have equal number of atoms in them.
REASON:

1 mole of Na = 23g
1 mole of U = 238g
Since, 1 mole of each atom contains Avogadro`s number of atoms and this (23g of Na
and 238g of U) is 1 mole of each Na and U. Hence, 23g of Na and 238g of U contains equal
numbers of atoms. i.e. 6.02 × 1023 atoms.

Q. 180g of glucose and 342g of sucrose have the same number of molecules but different
number of atoms. Justify.
Ans: 180g of glucose and 342g of sucrose contain same number of molecules but different
number of atoms.
REASON:

1 mole of glucose = 180g

1 mole of sucrose = 342g
1 mole of each compound has Avogadro`s number of molecules. Therefore, 180g of
glucose (1mole) and 342g of sucrose (1mole) contain equal number of molecules. i.e. 6.02 ×
1023 molecules.
Since, 1 mole of glucose (C6H12O6) contains 24 atoms. While, 1 mole of sucrose
(C12H22O11) contains 45 atoms, hence equal number of molecules of both will consist of
different number of atoms.

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Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

Q. Define relative atomic mass. Why we measure masses of atoms of different elements in
term of relative atomic mass?
Ans: RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS:
“The mass of an atom of an element as compared to the mass of an atom of carbon
taken as 12 is called relative atomic mass.”
REASON TO USE RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS:
The masses of atoms are extremely small. We don`t have any balance to weigh such an
extremely small masses, that is why we use the relative atomic mass unit scale.

Q. How does the efficiency of a chemical reaction expressed?

Ans: EFFICIENCY OF CHEMICAL REACTION:
The chemist is most interested in the efficiency of reaction. It can be obtained by
comparing theoretical and actual yield in the form of percentage yield. It is given by the
formula
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
% Yield = × 100
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑌𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑑

Q. Define gram formula with two examples?

Ans: GRAM FORMULA:
“The formula unit mass of an ionic compound expressed in grams is called gram
formula of that substance.”
EXAMPLES:
For example,
1 gram formula of NaCl = 58.50g
1 gram formula Na2CO3 = 106g

Q. Many chemical reactions taking place in our surrounding involve the limiting reactants.
Explain.
Ans: There are many chemical reactions in our surroundings which involve limiting reactant
i. Petrol burn in excess of oxygen in air.
ii. Rusting of iron occurs in excess of oxygen in air.
iii. Burning of coal in excess of oxygen.
In all above reactions, petrol, iron and coal are limiting reactants.

Q. Law of conservation of mass has to be considered during stoichiometry calculation.

Explain.
Ans: LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS:

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Chapter # 01 (Basic Concepts) Prof.Azam Rasool
Head of Chemistry Department

Stoichiometry calculations are done with balanced chemical equations. In this, it is

assumed that:
“matter is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical change.”
Hence, law of conservation of mass has to be considered during stoichiometry
calculations. Otherwise, with unbalanced chemical equations, stoichiometry calculations will
not be possible.

Q. Differentiate between cation and anion?

Ans: The difference between cation and anion is as follows:

CATION
“The species which carry positive
charge are called cation.”
For example, Na+, Ca2+, Al3+ etc are
examples of cations.
ANION
“The species which carry negative
charge are called anion.”
For example, F-, O2-, S2- etc are
examples of anions.

Q. Differentiate between theoretical yield and actual yield?

Ans: The difference between theoretical and actual yield is as follows:

THEORETICAL YEILD ACTUAL YEILD

It is amount of a product calculated from It is the amount of a product actually
balanced chemical equation. obtained during a chemical reaction.
It is always greater than actual yield. It is always less than theoretical yield.
It is a theoretical term. It is an experimental term.

Q. Differentiate between molecular formula and empirical formula.

Ans: The difference between molecular formula and empirical formula is as follows:

MOLECULAR FORMULA EMPIRICAL FORMULA

“The formula of a substance which
shows the total number of atoms of different
elements present in a molecule compound is
called molecular formula.”
For example, molecular formulas of
benzene and glucose are C6H6 and C6H12O6
respectively.
“The simplest formula that gives the
small whole number ratio between the
atoms of different elements present in a
compound is called empirical formula.”
The empirical formula of glucose
(C6H12O6) is CH2O and that of benzene
(C6H6) is CH.

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