Science Chemical Reactions and Equations Class 10

Detailed Notes (Topic – Chemical Reactions and Equations)

The processes in which a substance or substances undergo change to produce new substances
with new properties are known as chemical reactions.

for example, when calcium carbonate is heated, calcium oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide are
formed.
Reactant :
The substance which takes part in a chemical reaction is called reactant. For example, in the
breaking up of calcium carbonate into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide, calcium carbonate
is the reactant.
Product :
A product is a new substance formed in a chemical reaction. In the breaking up of calcium
carbonate, calcium oxide and carbon dioxide are the products.
Characteristics of a chemical reaction
 Change in temperature
 Formation of precipitate
 Evolution of a gas
 Change in colour

Examples
 Metal reacts with hydrochloric acid gives salt and hydrogen gas will be evolved.
 When magnesium ribbon is burnt it burns with a dazzling flame and and forms white
precipitate of magnesium oxide.

Note:- Magnesium ribbon should be cleaned before use because it forms a Passive film of
magnesium oxide.

Chemical Equation
A chemical equation is a shorthand representation of a chemical reaction using the symbols
and formulae of substance involved in the chemical reaction.
Rules for writing chemical equation :
Certain rules have to be followed while writing a chemical equation.
1. The reactants taking part in the reaction are written in terms of their symbols or
molecular formulae on the left-hand side of the equation.
2. A plus (+) sign is added between the formulae of the reactants.
3. The products of reaction are written in terms of their symbols or molecular formulae
on the right-hand side of the equation.
4. A plus (+) sign is added between the formulae of the products.
5. In between the reactants and the products an arrow sign () is inserted to show which
way the reaction is occurring.
A + B  C + D
In this chemical equation, A and B are the reactants, and C and D are the products.
The arrow indicates that the reaction proceeds towards the formation of C and D.

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 Science Chemical Reactions and Equations Class 10

Balanced Equations : The equations in which atoms of various elements on the

reactants' and the products side are equal.
 Reason of Balancing Equations :
The number of atoms of elements on both sides of a chemical equation should be equal in
accordance with the law of conservation of mass.
 Balancing :
The process of making atoms of various elements equal in an equation on either side is
called balancing.

Types of chemical reaction

Combination reaction
When two or more atoms combine to form a single product this operation is combination
reaction.
Calcium oxide+water--->calcium hydroxide
 Combination reactions are exothermic reactions.

Exothermic reactions
Reaction in which energy is released during the reaction.
For example
 Combustion of coal is an exothermic reaction
C+O2--> CO2
 Respiration is an exothermic reaction because energy is released during this process.

Decomposition reaction
Reaction in which single reactant breaks to form two or more reactants is called
decomposition reaction.
For example
Ferrous sulphate is heated gives ferric oxide + sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide.
Note:-
1. All decomposition reactions are endothermic in nature.
2. Decomposition reactions and combination reactions are complementary to each other
i.e. they are opposite to each other.

Decomposition reactions are of three types

I. Thermal decomposition
When Decomposition is carried out by using heat, this type of reactions are called thermal
decomposition reaction.
For example
1. When calcium carbonate is heated it gives calcium oxide and brisk effervescence of carbon
dioxide.
Calcium carbonate----> calcium oxide+ carbon dioxide

2. When lead nitrate is heated it gives lead oxide and brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.
Lead nitrate----> lead oxide+nitrogen dioxide

II. Electrolysis
When decomposition is carried on by using electricity.

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 Science Chemical Reactions and Equations Class 10

For example when electricity is passed through water decompose to give hydrogen and
oxygen gas.
Water------>hydrogen gas+dioxygen gas

Note:- During this reaction the amount of hydrogen gas collected is double the amount of
oxygen gas because number of hydrogen atoms present in the water molecule is double the
number of oxygen atoms.

III. Photochemical decomposition

When Decomposition is carried out by using light. This type of decomposition reactions are
called photochemical decomposition reaction.
For example
 When Silver Bromide is kept in sunlight decomposes to give silver and bromine.
 This Reaction is used in black and white photography.

Displacement reaction
A reaction in which a high reactive metal displaces low reactive metal from its salt solution is
called displacement reaction.

For example, when iron nail is kept in copper sulphate then the the blue colour of copper
sulphate changes to Green due to the formation of ferrous sulphate and Brown colour copper
is deposited on Iron nail.
iron+ copper sulphate-----> copper+ iron sulphate

Double displacement reaction

A reaction in which the exchange of Ions takes place between the salt solutions this reaction
is called double displacement reaction.
For example, when Barium Chloride reacts with sodium sulphate then it forms sodium
chloride and white colour precipitate of Barium sulphate.
This is also called precipitation reaction

Precipitation reaction
A reaction in which a precipitate is formed as a product is called precipitation reaction.

Oxidation reaction
A reaction in which oxygen is added or hydrogen is removed from any Substance is called
oxidation reaction.
For example, when brown colour copper wire is burnt in air then its colour changes to black
due to the formation of black coloured copper oxide.
copper+ oxygen----> copper oxide

Reduction reaction
A reaction in which oxygen is removed or hydrogen added to any substance is called
reduction reaction.
It is reciprocal of Oxidation reaction.

Redox reaction
A reaction in which oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously is called a Redox reaction.
CuO + Zn ---> ZnO + Cu
In the above reaction CuO is reduced and Zn is oxidized.

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 Science Chemical Reactions and Equations Class 10

Corrosion
When metal comes in contact with air moisture or acid then it gets oxidized and loses its
property this phenomena is called corrosion.
For example rusting of iron.
When iron is kept in air and moisture then it get oxidized and form Rust (Fe2O3.xH2O).

Methods to prevent rusting of iron or corrosion

1. painting
2. oiling
3. greasing
4. galvanization
5. anodizing
6. alloying
7. electroplating

Rancidity
When food material is kept in air and moisture then it gets oxidized and loses its taste and
smell this is called rancidity.

Methods to prevent rancidity

1. by using air tight container
2. by flushing the container with inert gas like nitrogen
3. by Sun drying
4. by refrigeration

Note:- The chips packets are filled with nitrogen so that they may not come in contact with
air and moisture and got rancid.

EG Institution, Mahavir ganj, Piplia Mandi, Dist. Mandsaur M.P. Ph: 9425976066