UNIT-4: SIMPLE

CHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHANGES
•Changes in matter happen all the time.
•These changes can be brought about when matter interacts with other matter through
mixing or when matter interacts with heat, light or electrical energy
•In physical change, no new substances are formed where as chemical change is the
one in which new substances are formed
•Changes in state such as melting, freezing, evaporation, boiling and condensation are
physical changes.
•Dissolving salt or sugar in water is another example of physical changes as no new
substances are formed when solutes dissolve solvents.
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
CHANGES
•Heating certain compounds brings about a chemical change as new substances are
formed.
•When copper carbonate is heated, it breaks down into copper oxide and carbon
dioxide. This is an example of chemical change.
•Chemical changes are not easily reversible. When paper is burnt into ashes, it cannot
be changed back into paper again.
•Physical and chemical changes which take place in the body such as breathing,
digestion, movement and respiration involves physical and chemical changes.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
•Chemical reactions are processes in which substances called reactants are changed to produce new substances known as
products.
•Word equations are used to represent chemical reactions:
Reactant A + Reactant B Product C
Iron + Suplhur  Iron Sulphide
Reactant A + Reactant B Product C + Product D
Potassium hydroxide + nitric acid  Potassium Nitrate + Water

Reactant A  Product B + Product C

Copper Cabonate  Copper Oxide + Carbon dioxide
•During chemical reaction, the reactant undergo chemical changes brought about by heat, light, electricity or the process
of mixing to form new substances
•In the synthesis of water, oxygen gas reacts with hydrogen gas to form the product water. The chemical equation is as
follows:
Hydrogen + Oxygen  Water
•In a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. It is called conservation of mass.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CAUSED BY HEAT
•Heat can bring about chemical changes, as we have observed from the decomposition of
copper carbonate. The process of breaking down a substance into simpler substances by
heat is called thermal decomposition.
•Sugar, for example decomposes into carbon and water vapour on heating.
Sugar  Carbon + Water
•When two or more substances combine to form a new substance, the chemical reaction is
called combination. An example of combination is the heating of iron filings and sulphur
to form the compound Iron Sulphide.
•In combustion or burning, a substance combines with oxygen when it is heated. In the
process, heat and light are produced and new substances are formed. E.g, burning
magnesium in air, combines with oxygen in the air to form a white solid – magnesium
oxide. It produces bright light
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CAUSED BY HEAT
The combustion of fuels is an important chemical reaction as the burning of fuels provides us with energy to
light up our homes, schools and offices. It is also used to power machines in factories and vehicles for transport.

Fuels are substances which release energy when they are burnt. Wood, charcoal, wax, alcohol and fossil fuels
are some examples.

Fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal and natural gas come from fossils, which are the remains of organisms which
lived millions of years ago.

Fossil fuels are rich in compounds containing carbon and thus burning fossil fuels results in production of
carbon dioxide gas.
Natural gas, a fossil fuel is made up of mostly of the compound methane and is widely used in homes and in the
industry. The word equation below shows the burning of methane in oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and
water.
Methane + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CAUSED BY MIXING
Chemical reactions can occur when we mix two or more substances together. When concentrated
sulphuric acid is mixed with sugar in a beaker, carbon, a black substance is formed.

Acids can react with certain metals and carbonates to produce new substances. The reactions of
dilute acids and alkalis to produce salts and water are also chemical reactions brought about by
mixing.
When zinc, a metal and dilute sulphuric acid are mixed, they react to form the salt zinc sulphate
and hydrogen gas. The colourless and odourless hydrogen gas can be identified with a lighted
splint as it extinguishes the lighted splint with a pop sound. The zinc gradually disappears during
the reaction as it forms zinc sulphate. This is an example of how a metal is corroded by an acid.

The word equation for the chemical reaction between zinc and dilute sulphuric acid is as shown
below:
Zinc + dilute sulphuric acid  Zinc Sulphate + Hydrogen
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CAUSED BY MIXING
Acids react with carbonates and bicarbonates too. If we mix baking soda or sodium
bicarbonate with vinegar (acetic or ethanoic acid). Bubbles of carbon dioxide gas will be
produced.

Acids react with carbonates and bicarbonates to produce carbon dioxide gas. Calcium
Carbonate, for example, reacts with dilute sulphuric acid to produce the salt, calcium sulphate,
carbon dioxide and water.
Calcium Carbonate + Dilute Sulphuric acid  Calcium Sulphate + Carbondioxide+ water
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Sometimes energy in the form of heat, light or electricity maybe needed to bring
about a chemical reaction in a mixture of substances. For example, a mixture of iron
and sulphur will not react until it is heated.

A plant kept in dark will not produce food even if both water and carbondioxide are
present. Light energy is needed for the water and carbondioxide to react during
photosynthesis.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Passing an electric current through a substance may cause a chemical reaction to take
place, as in the electrolysis of water.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Distinguish between a physical change and a chemical change.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Give an example each of useful physical change and chemical change . Explain
how they are useful

Example of physical change is movement, breathing and example of chemical

change is respiration. Movement helps us in walking so its useful and respiration
provides us with energy to carry out life activities.
REVIEW QUESTION
3. What brings about the following changes?
A. Condensation of water vapour: Physical change
B. Decomposition of sugar: Chemical Change
c. Rusting of iron: Chemical change

4. What kind of chemical reaction- combination, combustion, decomposition is the

burning of magnesium in oxygen?
It is an example of combustion