PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Why are water pipes galvanized?

ANSWER:

Water pipes are made up of iron. Rusting of iron occurs when iron interacts with air and
water. Therefore, to prevent rusting of iron, water pipes are galvanized, i.e. iron pipes
are coated with metals such as zinc or chromium to prevent iron from interacting with air.
Question 2:

When water is frozen, it forms ice that has different properties. Why then do we say that
freezing is physical change?
ANSWER:

In a physical change, only the physical properties of a substance change and no new
substances are formed.
Freezing of water is a physical change because only the physical state of water is
changed; i.e. water is converted into ice. Hence, freezing is a physical change.
Question 3:

Give one example each of a chemical reaction showing the following characteristics.

(a) evolution of a gas

(b) change of colour
(c) formation of precipitate
(d) change of state from liquid to gas
(e) change of state from gas to liquid
ANSWER:

 (a) Zn    +    H2SO4        →         ZnSO4     +     H2↑

    Zinc     Sulphuric                    Zinc          Hydrogen
                   acid                       sulphate
 (b) CuCO3       →       CuO     +      CO2↑
       Copper               Copper        Carbon

    carbonate              oxide            dioxide

     (green)                (black)

(c) CuSO4      +       H2S      →       CuS↓       +      H2SO4

    Copper            Hydrogen        Copper             Sulphuric

  sulphate              sulphide         sulphide               acid

(d) 2H2O (l)     →      2H2 (g)     +     O2 (g)
     Water                Hydrogen       Oxygen

(e) 2H2 (g)       +   O2 (g)       →       2H2O (l)

   Hydrogen         Oxygen                 Water
Question 4:

Distinguish between endothermic reactions and exothermic reactions.

ANSWER:

Endothermic Reaction Exothermic Reaction

These reactions are accompanied
with absorption of heat.
Melting of solids, fusion,
evaporation and vaporisation are
examples of endothermic reaction.
Question 5:
These reactions are accompanied
with evolution of heat.
Combustion of petrol and
oxidation of ammonia are
examples of exothermic reaction.

What is a combination reaction? Give an example.

ANSWER:

In a combination reaction, a compound is formed from its elements or from simpler

substances. For example, magnesium reacts with oxygen on heating to form magnesium
oxide.
 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
Question 6:

When is a substance said to be reduced in a chemical reactions?

ANSWER:

 In a chemical reaction, a substance is said to be reduced if hydrogen is added to it or

oxygen is removed from it.
Question 7:

What is crystallization?
ANSWER:

Crystallisation is a process in which pure solid is separated from a solution in the form of
its crystals.
For example, common salt obtained from sea water contains soluble impurities such as
magnesium chloride. To purify common salt, crystallisation process is applied.

What is a supersaturated solution?

ANSWER:

A solution in which more solute is dissolved by increasing the temperature of a saturated

solution is called supersaturated solution. When a supersaturated solution is cooled to
room temperature, it crystallises easily.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 1:

Discuss the methods by which rusting of iron can be prevented.

ANSWER:

Rusting of iron can be prevented by following methods:

(a) Painting: A coat of paint applied on the surface of an iron object prevents oxygen and
moisture present in the atmosphere from interacting with the iron object.
(b) Oil or grease: Applying oil or grease on the surface of iron tools helps to keep out the
oxygen and moisture of the atmosphere.
(c) Galvanization: Galvanization is a process of coating iron objects with a thin layer of
metal such as zinc or chromium. A thin coating of zinc or chromium protects the iron
from rusting.
Question 2:

Which gas is given off when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to calcium carbonate?
How will you test the gas? Write the chemical equations for both reactions.
ANSWER:

Carbon dioxide is given off when dilute hydrochloric acid is added to calcium carbonate.
The equation involved is:
                             CaCO3    +     HCl     →     CaCl2     +     H2O     +     CO2↑

Carbon dioxide can be tested by passing it over lime water. Lime water turns milky. The
equation involved is:
                      Ca(OH)2      +        CO2        →        CaCO3      +      H2O
                        Lime                  Carbon               Calcium            Water
                                                  dioxide              carbonate

The calcium carbonate formed in the reaction is white in colour and not much soluble in
water. It gives milky appearance and is used as a test for the presence of carbon
dioxide.
Question 3:

Explain the steps involved in preparing the base magnesium hydroxide from the metal
magnesium.
ANSWER:

The following steps are involved in preparing the base magnesium hydroxide from the
metal magnesium:
(a) Take a small piece of magnesium ribbon.
(b) Clean its tip with sandpaper.
(c) Hold it with a pair of tongs and bring it near the flame. It burns with a dazzling flame
and forms a powdery ash (magnesium oxide).
(e) Collect the ash in a test tube and mix it with a small amount of water and stir.
When magnesium oxide dissolves in water, it forms magnesium hydroxide. The equation
involved is:
                    2MgO       +       2H2O       →       2Mg(OH)2
                Magnesium           Water                Magnesium
                    oxide                                            hydroxide
Question 4:

A decomposition reaction is the opposite of a combination reaction. Explain with the help
of an example.
ANSWER:

The reaction in which a compound breaks down to give two or more simpler substances
is called a decomposition reaction.
For example, on passing an electric current through water in which a small amount of
sulphuric acid has been added, water decomposes to give hydrogen and oxygen gases.
2H2O → 2H2 + O2

The reaction in which two or more elements combine to form a single compound is
called a combination reaction.
For example, hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water.
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O 

From the above examples, it is clear that a decomposition reaction is the opposite of a
combination reaction.
Question 5:

Under which two conditions do decomposition reactions normally take place? Give one
example of each.
ANSWER:

The two conditions under which decomposition reaction normally takes place are as
follows:
(a) Heating: When calcium hydroxide is heated, calcium oxide and steam are produced.
                      Ca(OH)2       →         CaO      +     H2O
                     Calcium                Calcium         Water
                     hydroxide                oxide
(b) Electrolysis: When an electric current is passed through a molten aluminium oxide, it
undergoes decomposition to form aluminium and oxygen gas.
                      2Al2O3    →    4Al   +  3O2
Question 6:

What is a displacement reaction? Which rule governs displacement of an element in a

compound by another element? Explain with an example.
ANSWER:

In a displacement reaction, one element replaces another element from a compound.

Generally, a more reactive element replaces a less reactive element from its compound.
For example, iron is more reactive element than copper. If a piece of iron is added to a
solution of copper sulphate, iron sulphate is formed. Copper metal gets deposited on the
iron piece.

                  CuSO4       +      Fe      →      FeSO4      +      Cu

                 Copper              Iron               Iron                Copper
                 sulphate                                  sulphate 
Question 7:

What is a double decomposition reaction? How many types of double decomposition

reaction do you know of? Give one example of each.
ANSWER:

A reaction in which two compounds react to form two other compounds by mutual
exchange of atoms or group of atoms is called double displacement reaction. There are
two types of double displacement reaction.

(a) Precipitation reaction: In this reaction, two compounds react in their aqueous state to

form an insoluble product, which appears in the form of a precipitate. For example,
aqueous sodium chloride and silver nitrate react to form a white precipitate of silver
chloride.
   
            NaCl      +      AgNO3     →      AgCl↓     +      NaNO3
         Sodium               Silver              Silver              Sodium
         chloride              nitrate          chloride             nitrate  

(b) Neutralisation reaction: When a base and an acid react, they exchange their ions and
form compounds called salt, water and sometimes a gas. For example, hydrochloric acid
reacts with potassium hydroxide to form potassium chloride (salt) and water.
                 HCl        +        KOH         →      KCl       +       H2O
         Hydrochloric        Potassium         Potassium        Water 
                acid                hydroxide          chloride
Question 8:
Explain the terms-oxidation and oxidizing agent.
ANSWER:

Oxidation is a chemical reaction that involves addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen

from a substance. For example, when carbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide,
it is said to be oxidised by gaining oxygen.
            C      +      O2       →     CO2
      Carbon       Oxygen       Carbon
                                            dioxide

Similarly, when hydrogen sulphide reacts with chlorine, hydrogen sulphide is said to be
oxidised to sulphur by loss of hydrogen.
 
         H2S       +      Cl2       →     S        +       2HCl
    Hydrogen       Chlorine      Sulphur         Hydrochloric
      sulphide                                                     acid 
 
An oxidising agent is one that oxidises other substances either by providing oxygen to
them or by removing hydrogen from them.