Structure Of Matter

Choose the correct answer

1. c
2. d
3. a
4. b
5. c
6. c
7. b
8. d
9. b

B. Very short answer questions

1. Atom is the smallest particle of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction.
2. The smallest particle of a compound is a molecule.
3. Argon,Helium,Neon etc are elements that exists freely in nature, as it is a
noble gas.
4. Oxygen, O2, is an element whose atoms occur in pairs.
Oxygen is a diatomic element made up of 2 atoms of oxygen, i.e., its atoms occur in
pairs
5. If the formula of an element is X3, its atomicity is 3.
6. If two compounds that do not react chemically are mixed, we will simply
get a mixture of compounds.
7. It is easy to separate the elements of a mixture by physical means. However, the
elements of a compound are chemically bonded to each other, and can only be
separated through chemical means.
8. Symbols represent atoms and not molecules.
The symbols of the following elements are:
a. Cobalt  - Co
b. Copper – Cu
c. Chlorine – Cl
d. Carbon – C
9. The formulae for the following are:
a. Sulphuric acid –H2SO4
b. Calcium hydroxide – Ca(OH)2
c. Sugar –C12H22O11
d. Common salt – NaCl
10. In the compound with the formula H2XH2X, the valency of X is 2.
This is because the valencies of the elements in a compound are
interchanged while writing its formula. In this case, the valency of X is 2
and H is 1.
 11. Yes, it is true. The chemical composition or ratio of two or more elements forming a
compound always remains the same. For example, no matter where we take water
from, its elements will always be 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen,
combined in the fixed ratio of 2:1.
12. False, the equation is not balanced.
For a balanced equation, the number of atoms in the both side of the equation
should be equal.

MgO + HCl → MgCl2 + H2O
Mg-1 Mg-1
O-1 O-1
H-2 H-1
Cl-2 Cl-1
Therefore, the balanced equation is,

MgO +2 HCl → MgCl2 + H2O

C.Short Answer Questions

1. A compound is only formed when two or more elements will chemically react with
each other on mixing them together. In case the conditions to undergo a chemical
reaction are not suitable, the elements will mix with each other to form a mixture.

2. Properties of one compound differ from that of the other because of the following
reasons:
1. Each compound is formed by a different set of elements.
2. Even with the same set of elements, different compounds are formed by varying
numbers of constituent atoms.
Example: Just varying the number of carbon and oxygen atoms, we get carbon monoxide or
CO (toxic gas) and carbon dioxide or CO2 (non-toxic gas).

3. Most of the elements are reactive and have a high affinity to combine with other elements
to form a compound. Thus, most of the elements can not exist freely in nature. 

4. By heating the mixture of iron and sulphur we can produce iron sulphide. Therefore,
heat which is the condition required for chemically reacting iron and sulphur, is satisfied.

   Fe   +     S  Heating      FeS

 Iron     Sulphur       Iron sulphide

5. A formula represents the kind of elements present in a compound and the number of
atoms and molecules of those elements in the compound.
Example: The formula 2H2O2H2O represents 2 molecules of water, where each
molecule of water contains 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen.

Explain the differences between an element and a compound. Give examples.

ANSWER:
 Elements
Substance that contains only one
type of atom and cannot be
further divided chemically is
called an element.
The smallest particle of an
element is an atom.
Example: Silver (Ag)
Compound
Substance produced by
combining two or more
elements in a constant ratio
is called a compound.
The smallest particle of a
compound is a molecule.
Example: Common salt
(NaCl)

 
Question 2:

Explain the difference between the atom and the molecule of an element. Can a
molecule of an element be the same as its atom? Give an example.
ANSWER:

Atom
Atom is the smallest particle of an
element which cannot be further
divided chemically.
It may or may not exist freely in
nature.
Example: Hydrogen (H)
Molecule
Molecule is defined as the smallest
particle of a compound which can
be further divided in to atoms
chemically.
A molecule bears the same
property as its atom.
Examples: Hydrogen gas (H2)

A molecule of an element can be same as its atom.

Example: A molecule of oxygen will have 2 atoms of oxygen.
Question 3:

Write the formulae of the following compounds, showing the steps involved.

(a) sodium oxide

(b) magnesium nitrate
(c) magnesium sulphate
(d) aluminium chloride
ANSWER:

Let's write the formula of the given compounds along with the steps involved.
a. Sodium oxide
* The elements in sodium oxide are sodium and oxygen. The valency of sodium is 1 and
oxygen is 2. Therefore, we write the symbols as Na 1 and O2. 
* The common factor among the numbers 1 and 2 is nil.
* The valencies are exchanged and are written as subscripts to the elements. Thus, the
formula of sodium oxide would be Na2O.
 
b. Magnesium nitrate
* Magnesium nitrate contains the element magnesium and nitrogen. The valency of
magnesium is 2 and radical of nitrogen is 1. Therefore, we write the symbols as Mg 2 and
(NO3)1.
* The common factor among the numbers 1 and 2 is nil.
* The valencies are exchanged and written as superscripts to the elements. As the
radical contains more than 2 atoms, the radical is written in brackets and the exchanged
valency is written as its subscript. Thus, the formula of magnesium nitrate would be Mg
(NO3)2.

c. Magnesium sulphate
* Magnesium sulphate contains the element magnesium and sulphur. The valency of
magnesium is 2 and that of the radical of sulphur is also 2. Therefore, we write the
symbols as Mg2 and (SO4)2.
* The common factor among the numbers 2 and 2 is one.
* As both the element and radical’s valencies are one, neither the radical will not be
written in brackets nor the valency number will be written as a subscript. Thus, the
formula of Magnesium sulphate would be MgSO4.

 
d. Aluminium chloride
* The elements in aluminium chloride are aluminium and chlorine. The valency of
aluminium is 3 and chlorine is 1. Therefore, we write the symbols as Al 3 and Cl1.
* The common factor among the numbers 1 and 3 is nil.
* The valencies are exchanged and are written as subscripts to the elements. Thus the
formula of aluminium chloride would be AlCl 3.

What is a chemical equation? Why is it necessary to balance an equation?

ANSWER:

A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. With the help
of symbols of elements and formulas of compounds, a chemical reaction is explained as
a simple equation for better understanding.

One of the essential conditions of writing a chemical equation is that the total number of
atoms of all the elements on both sides (LHS and RHS) of the chemical equation should
be equal.

Example:

    2H2     +   O2    →→    2H2O

       Reactants           Product
           LHS                  RHS

Balance the following equations.

(a) Mg + H2SO4 → MgSO4 + H2

(b) CaCO3 + HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
(c) CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2
(d) Ag + HNO3 → AgNO3 + H2O + NO2
ANSWER:

For balancing a chemical equation, the number of atoms should be equal on both the
sides (LHS and RHS). Keeping this conditions in mind, let's balance the below given
equations.
 
(a) Mg + H2SO4    →   MgSO4 + H2Mg + H2SO4    →   MgSO4 + H2

(b) CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
 
(c) Ca + H2O → Ca(OH)2Ca + H2O → CaOH2

(d) Ag + 2HNO3 →AgNO3 + H2O + NO2
Using the example of calcium chloride explain how the formulae of compounds are
derived (given that the valency of calcium is 2 and that of chlorine is 1).
ANSWER:

The steps involved in writing the formula for a compound are as follows:
1. Note down the symbols of the elements or their radicals. Then note down the
valencies as superscript on the symbols of the elements.
2. If there is a common factor in the valencies, then divide it to a simple one.
3. Exchange the valencies and write them as subscripts.
[Note: If the radicals contain more than 2 atoms, they will be written in brackets and the
exchanged valence number is written as subscript.]

Let's use the above steps for writing the formula for calcium chloride.
* The elements in calcium chloride are calcium and chlorine. The valency of calcium is 2
and chlorine is 1. Therefore, we write the symbols as Ca 2 and Cl1.
* The common factor among the numbers 1 and 2 is nil.
* The valencies are exchanged and written as subscripts to the elements. Therefore,
the formula of calcium chloride would be CaCl 2.