GRADE 7

UNIT 8- CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Learner’s Book Questions and Answers

8.1
1. What is needed for combustion to take place?

The presence of oxygen

2. What is an exothermic reaction

Ans: A reaction which releases energy to the surroundings

3. How can you tell that burning is an exothermic reaction?

Ans: The surrounding gets warmer as thermal energy is released

4. What are the products when magnesium and hydrochloric acid react?

Ans: Magnesium chloride and hydrogen

5. How did Sofia and Marcus know when the reaction had finished?

Ans: No more bubbles would form

6.

Ans: Sofia is correct and the change in temperature of both reactions is the same. Marcus’s final
temperature was higher as his initial temperature was also higher than Sofia’s.

7. Explain why is it a good idea to wear safety glasses while carrying out this experiment?

Ans: So that hydrochloric acid doesn’t splash into the eyes when magnesium ribbon is dropped.

8.2
1. Look at the word equation again

Sodium hydrogencarbonate + citric acid

sodium citrate + water + carbon dioxide

(a) What are the reactants?

Ans: Sodium hydrogencarbonate and citric acid

(b) What are the producst?

Ans: Sodium citrate, water and carbon dioxide

2. What is an endothermic reaction?

Ans: A reaction which takes in energy from the surroundings

3. Explain why eating sherbet sweets makes your mouth feel cooler?

Ans: An endothermic reaction takes place between sodium hydrogen carbonate and citric acid in the
sweets when they dissolve in the saliva.

4. You may also get a ‘fizzy’ feeing in your mouth when you eat sherbet. Why is this?

Ans: Due to the reactants reacting.

5. Why is ice melting called an endothermic process and not an endothermic reaction?

Ans: Ice melting is a physical change, not a chemical change. Hence it is not a reaction.

6. Suggest a change of state, other than ice melting, that is an endothermic reaction.

Ans: Boiling

7. When you have been swimming and you come out of the pool, you may feel cold. Use your
understanding of endothermic processes to explain why.

Ans: The water on your body evaporates, which is an endothermic process. It takes energy from your
body to evaporate.

8. Suggest whether water freezing is an endothermic or exothermic process. Explain.

Ans: It is exothermic as water needs to lose energy for the particles to move closer together to form a
solid structure. It gives away energy to the surroundings.

9. Explain why self heating cans are very expensive.

Ans: The compartments must be sealed from the other compartment and the food

10. Explain why a self heating food container can only be used once.

Ans: When the button is pressed, the seal between the compartments breaks and the two parts are
mixed.

11. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of each of the two types of icepack described above.

Ans: First one-

Advantage: It can be reused

Disadvantage: It needs a fridge or freezer to be cool it

Second one:-

Advantage: It can be used without electricity as it does not need a fridge or freezert
Disadvantage: It cannot be reused.

8.3
1. Which property of sodium and potassium is not typical of a metal?

Ans: They can react with oxygen without being heated

2. Why is the scientist in the photograph wearing gloves to cut the piece of sodium.

Ans: Sodium reacts vigorously when in contact with air.

3. Write a word equation for the reaction between sodium and oxygen

Ans: Sodium + oxygen sodium oxide

4. What conditions are needed to prevent iron from rusting?

Ans: Dry environment and no air

5. Which test tube and which condition caused the iron to rust most quickly?

Ans: Test tube 2, water and air

6. Why is the same type of nail used in all test tubes?

Ans: To make sure the test is fair.

7. How is the air in test tube 3 dried?

Ans: Calcium chloride is put in the test tube which absorbs water.

8. How is the air in test tube 4 kept out of contact with the nail?

Ans: Putting oil in it blocks out air entering the water.

8.4

1. Write the word equation for the reaction between sodium and water.

Ans: Sodium + water ---→ sodium hydroxide + hydrogen

2. What safety precautions must be taken when these reactions take place?

Ans: Safety goggles and gloves

3.Explain why these metals are stored under oil.

Ans: It prevents the metals from reacting with oxygen from the air.

4. What is the gas that is given off? How can you test for it?

Ans: The gas is hydrogen. Put a lit splint into the gas. If it is hydrogen, it burns with a ‘pop’ sound.
5. How can you tell is calcium or magnesium is more reactive?

Ans: By seeing the amount of bubbles produced.

6. What factors should you take into account to make this a fair test?

Ans: Keep the mass of both metals the same and the volume of water the same.

7. Write a word equation for the reaction between calcium and water

Ans: calcium + water ---→ calcium hydroxide + hydrogen

8. Explain using particle theory, why the reaction between steam and magnesium is more vigorous than
between water and magnesium.

Ans: Steam has more energy than water and hence the reacting particles collide more often.

9. Name 3 metals that do not react with water

Ans: Copper, Silver, Gold

10. If an element is said to be inert, what does it mean?

Ans: It is not reactive.

8.5
1. Write the word equation for the reaction between magnesium and sulfuric acid

Ans: magnesium + sulfuric acid---→ magnesium sulfate + hydrogen

2. What is the salt produced in question 1?

Ans: magnesium sulfate

3. Write the word equation for the reaction between zinc and nitric acid

Ans: zinc + nitric acid ---→ zinc nitrate + hydrogen

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

8.1

a. An example of a chemical reaction where thermal energy is given out in the surroundings

Ans: magnesium ribbon placed in hydrochloric acid

b. An example of endothermic reaction

Ans: sodium hydrogencarbonate added to citric acid

c. The temperature in an endothermic reaction

Ans: decreases

d. An example of an endothermic process

Ans: evaporation

e. The type of reaction between calcium and water

Ans: exothermic

8.2

a. Which variable will Marcus change?

Ans: Type of fuel

b. Name 2 variables Marcus must keep the same:

Ans: Volume of fuel and volume of water

c. Explain what he must do in order to be able to identify which fuel gave out the most thermal energy to
the surroundings

Ans: Measure burning which fuels results in the greatest change in temperature of the water

d. Name one safety precaution he should take whilst carrying out this investigation

Ans: Ensure that he wears gloves while handling the fuel

8.3

a. carbon + oxygen ---→ carbon dioxide

b. sodium hydroxide + hydrochloric acid ----→ sodium chloride + water

c. magnesium + oxygen ----→ magnesium oxide

d. potassium + water ---→ potassium hydroxide + hydrogen

8.4

a. What trend is shown by both sets of results?

Ans: Final temperature increases ad mass of calcium reacted increases

b. Predict what would happen if 5g of calcium is added.

Ans: The final temperature will increase further

(20−19)+(22−21)
d. 1g-
2

Mass of calcium/ g Mean temperature change/ degree C

1 1
2 1.5
3 3
 4 4

e. (i)Which variable and unit should they put along the horizontal axis?

They should put mass of calcium in grams on the horizontal axis as it is the independent variable

(ii) Which variable and unit should they put along the vertical axis>

They should put temperature change in degrees celcius on the vertical axis

f. Zara and Arun carried out a third set of experiments using 20cm^3 of water instead of 10 cm^3. Could
they add these results to the first 2 sets of results to calculate the mean temperature change? Explain
your answer

They can’t add it to the first two sets as they used a larger volume of water this time. The test wont be
fair as the temperature change for all of them would be higher than the first test automatically and the
mean value will be higher.