Language of Chemistry
Solutions for Chemistry, Class 8, ICSE
Exercise
13 questionsQuestion 1
Define:
(a) Radical
(b) Valency
(c) Molecular formula
Answer:
(a) Radical is an atom of an element or a group of atoms of the same or different elements that behave as a single unit and has positive or negative charge.
(b) Valency is the combining capacity of an atom of an element or of a radical with the atoms of other elements or radicals to form molecules.
(c) A molecular formula of a compound is the symbolic representation of its one molecule which shows the number of atoms of each element present in it.
Question 2
Give the symbols and valencies of the following radicals:
(a) Hydroxide
(b) Chloride
(c) Carbonate
(d) Ammonium
(e) Nitrate
Answer:
Radical | Symbol | Valency |
---|---|---|
Hydroxide | OH- | 1 |
Chloride | Cl- | 1 |
Carbonate | CO32- | 2 |
Ammonium | NH4+ | 1 |
Nitrate | NO3- | 1 |
Question 3
Write the molecular formulae for the oxides and sulphides of the following elements.
(a) Sodium
(b) Calcium
(c) Hydrogen
Answer:
Element | Oxide | Sulphide |
---|---|---|
Sodium | Na2O | Na2S |
Calcium | CaO | CaS |
Hydrogen | H2O | H2S |
Question 4
Write the molecular formulae for the following compounds and name the elements present.
(a) Baking soda
(b) Common salt
(c) Sulphuric acid
(d) Nitric acid
Answer:
Compounds | Molecular formula | Elements present |
---|---|---|
Baking soda | NaHCO3 | Sodium, hydrogen, carbon, oxygen |
Common salt | NaCl | Sodium, chlorine |
Sulphuric acid | H2SO4 | Hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen |
Nitric acid | HNO3 | Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen |
Question 5
The valency of aluminium is 3. Write the valency of other radicals present in the following compounds.
(a) Aluminium chloride
(b) Aluminium oxide
(c) Aluminium nitride
(d) Aluminium sulphate
Answer:
Compounds | Radical | Valency |
---|---|---|
Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) | Chloride (Cl-) | 1 |
Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) | Oxide (O2-) | 2 |
Aluminium nitride (AlN) | Nitride (N3-) | 3 |
Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) | Sulphate (SO42-) | 2 |
Question 6
What is variable valency? Give two examples of elements showing variable valency.
Answer:
Some elements exhibit more than one valency and they are said to have variable valency.
Examples: Iron and copper.
Metal | Radicals | Valency |
---|---|---|
Iron (Fe) | Ferrous, Ferric | 2, 3 |
Copper (Cu) | Cuprous, Cupric | 1, 2 |
Question 7
(a) What is a chemical equation?
(b) Why is it necessary to balance a chemical equation?
(c) What are the limitations of a chemical equation?
Answer:
(a) A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction using symbols and formulae of the substances involved in the reaction.
(b) It is necessary to balance a chemical equation so as to make the number of atoms of the reactants equal to the number of atoms of the products because a chemical reaction is just a rearrangement of atoms and atoms are neither created nor destroyed during the chemical reaction.
(c) The limitations of a chemical equation are:
It does not inform about:
- the physical states of the reactants and the products i.e. whether they are solids, liquids or gases.
- the concentration of reactants and products.
- the time taken for the completion of reaction.
- the rate at which a reaction proceeds.
- the heat changes during the reaction i.e. whether heat is given out or absorbed.
- the conditions such as temperature, pressure, catalyst, etc. which affect the reaction.
- the nature of the reaction i.e. whether it is reversible or irreversible.
Question 8
What are the ways by which a chemical equation can be made more informative?
Answer:
A chemical equation can be made more informative by the following ways:
- The physical state of the reactants and products can be indicated by putting s for solid, l for liquid, g for gas, aq. for aqueous state besides the symbols for the reactants and products.
- Evolution or absorption of heat during the reaction can be denoted by adding or subtracting a heat term on the product side.
- Temperature, pressure and catalyst can be indicated above the arrow (⟶) separating the reactants and products.
- Concentration of reactants and products are indicated by adding the words (dil.) for dilute and (conc.) for concentrated before their formulae.
- By the sign ⟶ or ⇌ information about irreversible and reversible reactions can be known.
- Upward arrow (↑) indicates a gas is evolved, downward arrow (↓) indicates a precipitate is formed, sign delta (Δ) indicates heat is evolved or absorbed.
Question 9
State the law of conservation of mass.
Answer:
Law of conservation of mass states that matter can neither be created nor be destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another.
Question 10
Differentiate between:
(a) Reactants and Products
(b) A balanced and an unbalanced chemical equation
Answer:
(a) Differences between Reactants and Products
Reactants | Products |
---|---|
The substances that are used as the starting material and which react with one another are called reactants. | The substances which are formed as a result of the reaction are called products. |
Reactants are written on the left hand side of the equation. | Products are written on the right hand side of the equation. |
In equation C + O2 ⟶ CO2, C and O2 are reactants. | In equation C + O2 ⟶ CO2, CO2 is product. |
(b) Differences between a balanced and an unbalanced chemical equation
Balanced chemical equation | Unbalanced chemical equation |
---|---|
In balanced chemical equation the total number of atoms on the reactant side as well as the product side are equal. | In unbalanced chemical equation the total number of atoms on the reactant side and product side are not equal. |
Example: Zn + H2SO4 ⟶ ZnSO4 + H2 | Example: H2 + O2 ⟶ H2O |
Question 11
Balance the following equations:
N2 + H2 ⟶ NH3
H2 + O2 ⟶ H2O
Na2O + H2O ⟶ NaOH
CO + O2 ⟶ CO2
Zn + HCl ⟶ ZnCl2 + H2
Answer:
N2 + 3H2 ⟶ 2NH3
2H2 + O2 ⟶ 2H2O
Na2O + H2O ⟶ 2NaOH
2CO + O2 ⟶ 2CO2
Zn + 2HCl ⟶ ZnCl2 + H2
Question 12
Write balanced chemical equations for the following word equations:
Iron + Chlorine ⟶ Iron(III) chloride
Magnesium + dil. sulphuric acid ⟶ Magnesium sulphate + hydrogen
Magnesium + oxygen ⟶ Magnesium oxide
Calcium oxide + water ⟶ Calcium hydroxide
Sodium + Chlorine ⟶ Sodium chloride
Answer:
2Fe + 3Cl2 ⟶ 2FeCl3
Mg + H2SO4 ⟶ MgSO4 + H2
2Mg + O2 ⟶ 2MgO
CaO + H2O ⟶ Ca(OH)2
2Na + Cl2 ⟶ 2NaCl
Question 13
What information do you get from the following chemical equation?
Zn(s) + 2HCl (dil) ⟶ ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
Answer:
We get the following information from the given chemical equation:
- Zinc and Hydrochloric acid are reactants. Zinc is in solid state that reacts with dilute HCl.
- The reaction is irreversible.
- The products formed are aqueous solution of zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.
- The equation is balanced i.e. number of atoms of each element on reactants and products sides are equal.