Chemistry Notes

1. Explain that a chemical reaction consists of reactants and products and atoms are
rearranged in any reaction.
In a chemical reaction, reactants contact each other, bonds between atoms in the reactants
are broken, and atoms rearrange and form new bonds to make the products. No new atoms
can be created or destroyed.
2. State and explain the law of conservation of mass and the law of constant proportions.
Law of conservation of mass - mass can never be created or destroyed by chemical reactions
or physical transformations. Mass always remains constant
Law of constant proportion – A chemical compound will always contain its elements in a
fixed ratio, no matter the source of the compound or how it was made.
3. Explain that it may be necessary to supply energy to start a chemical reaction.
Some reactions require energy to begin their reaction. Burning gasoline requires initial
energy to begin, but after the initial energy is provided the reaction, if exothermic, produces
its own energy.
4. Identify that an exothermic reaction gives out energy and that an endothermic reaction
takes in energy.
An exothermic reaction releases energy as a product and an endothermic reaction takes in
energy to occur.
5. Recall the method of writing formulae for simple compounds (ionic and covalent).
Ionic – metal and a non-metal, use ionic charges, end anions with ide
CaF2 – Calcium Fluoride
Potassium Sulphate – K2SO4
MgO – Magnesium Oxide
Covalent – non-metal and non-metal, use numerical prefixes, end anions with ide
Dinitrogen trioxide – N2O3
PH3 – Phosphorus Trihydride
N2O – Dinitrogen Oxide
6. Identify that an aqueous solution of a salt contains independent ions.
When a salt is contained in an aqueous solution, it contains independent ions known as
electrolytes.
7. Describe a precipitation reaction as a reaction in which a precipitate forms.
A precipitation reaction occurs when two aqueous solutions react together to form a solid,
known as a precipitate. The general form of a precipitate reaction looks like so:

8. Describe the general solubility of common inorganic compounds.

9. Describe corrosion as a reaction in which a metal reacts with gases and water.
Corrosion is a reaction that takes place over a long period of time and is the gradual decay
of metal after exposure to gas or liquids. When iron corrodes, it produces iron oxide. Iron
corroding is known as rusting.
10. Describe the general features of each of the following types of chemical reactions:
displacement, combustion, decomposition, combination, redox.
Single Displacement - A single-replacement reaction is a chemical reaction in which one
element is substituted for another element in a compound, generating a new element and a
new compound as products.
Double Displacement - A double-replacement reaction occurs when parts of two ionic
compounds are exchanged, making two new compounds. A characteristic of a double-
replacement equation is that there are two compounds as reactants and two different
compounds as products.
Synthesis (also known as combination reaction) - A synthesis reaction produces a single
substance from multiple reactants.
Decomposition - A decomposition reaction starts from a single substance and produces
more than one substance.
Combustion – Combustion reaction occurs when a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen gas.
Products always have to include water and carbon dioxide
Redox – Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons are called oxidation-
reduction (redox) reaction.
11. Identify corrosion and combustion reactions as examples of redox reactions.
Corrosion and combustion are both examples of redox reactions as electrons are transferred
during the reaction.
12. Distinguish between the oxidation and reduction components of a redox reaction.
Reduction in a redox reaction is gaining electrons, while oxidation is losing electrons. In the
molecule NaCl, the Sodium has a charge of +1 while the Chlorine has a charge of -1.
Therefore, the sodium is oxidised while the chlorine is reduced.
13. Describe the activity series of metals as a list placing metals in decreasing order of
reactivity.
The activity series of metals p redicts whether or not a single displacement reaction
will occur. If the metal is more reactive than another metal in the displacement reaction,
then the reaction will occur.
14. Identify Group I metals as the most reactive and silver, gold and platinum as least
reactive.
Group 1 metals are the most reactive metals while silver, gold and platinum are the least
reactive metals.
15. Compare and contrast the properties of acids and bases.
Acids:

 Acid will always contain a hydrogen ion when dissolved in water

 Sour taste
 Reacts with metals to produce a salt and hydrogen gas
 Reacts with carbonates to produce a salt, water and carbon dioxide
 pH less than 7
 Acids can be classified into organic and inorganic
 Organic contains carbon – CH3OOH
 Inorganic doesn’t contain carbon – H2SO4
Base:

 Bases yield hydroxide ions when dissolved in water

 Bitter taste
 pH more than 7
 Reacts with acids to produce a salt and water
16. Identify common acids, their occurrence and uses including hydrochloric, sulfuric,
nitric, ethanoic (acetic), carbonic and citric (formula not necessary for citric).
17. Identify common bases their occurrence and uses including sodium hydroxide,
ammonia, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.
18. Identify alkalis as a type of base.
Bases are substances that react with acids and neutralise them. They are usually metal
oxides, metal hydroxides, metal carbonates or metal hydrogen carbonates. Many bases are
insoluble meaning they do not dissolve in water. However, if a base does dissolve in water,
we call it an alkali.
19. Describe the reactants and products when an acid reacts with metals, carbonates and
bases.
Acid and Base – Produces a salt and water
Acid and Metal – Produces a salt and hydrogen gas
Acid and Carbonate – Produces a salt, water and carbon dioxide
20. Describe neutralisation as a reaction between an acid and a base to form a salt and
water.
Neutralisation is a reaction between an acid and a base to form a salt and water.
21. Identify the pH scale and the pH of some common substances.

22. Describe indicators as substances which can be used to distinguish acids from bases.
Indicators, also known as universal indicators, are substances that when added to a solution,
will change the colour of the substance. This colour varies based on the pH of the solution,
and is used to distinguish bases and acids. If a redder colour occurs, the solution is acidic. If
a bluer, purple colour occurs the solution is basic.
23. Describe an antacid as a substance that is used to treat indigestion.
Antacids are basic substances that are used to treat indigestion by neutralising the acidity in
the stomach.
24. Identify that the speed of reactions can vary.
The speed of any reaction can vary depending on many variables both inside and outside
the reaction.
25. Describe how temperature, surface area and concentration affect the rate of reaction.
Temperature – Raising the temperature of a reaction can increase the rate of reaction.
Surface Area – Increasing the surface area of solids can increase a reaction rate.
Concentration – Increasing the amount of reactants can increase the rate
26. Describe a catalyst as a substance that increases the rate of reaction.
Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a reaction without being part of the
reactants. It lowers the minimum amount of energy required for the molecules to begin the
reaction, thus increasing the rate of reaction.
27. Describe an enzyme as a biological catalyst.
An enzyme is a biological catalyst produced by living organisms to speed up chemical
reactions