Basic knowledge of chemical reaction

*Atoms:- Are the smallest particles of which any

substance is composed that can take part in a
chemical reaction. An atom consists of a central
compact nucleus which contain protons and particles
with no electrical charged called neutrons.Very small
negatively charged particles called electrons surround
the nucleus.
Because the numbers of positively charged protons
equal the numbers of negatively charged electrons an
atom is electrically neutral. Atoms of different
elements differ from one another by the number of
protons and neutrons in the nucleus of each.
An element is a substance made up of only one kind
of atom. The chemical prosperities of an atom are
controlled by its electrons with the chemical
combination of electrons taking place by the transfer
or sharing of outer electrons between combing
atoms. The nuclei of atoms remain unchanged during
such reactions.
*Atomic number and atomic masses of elements:-
The number of protons in the nuclei of atoms
determines what is known as the atomic number of
an element. For example the number of protons in a
carbon atom is 6 therefore the atomic number of an
element carbon is 6.
The sum of the number of protons and neutrons
determines what is called the atomic mass(weight) of
an element. This does not represent an actual
weighed mass but is a relative amount. It indicates
how much heavier or lighter based on the atomic
weight of an isotope of carbon which has been
assigned an atomic mass of 12 units.
*Isotopes:- Almost all the elements have what are
called isotopes. These are atoms of the same element
that have the same number of protons in their nuclei
but a different number of neutrons i.e they have the
same atomic number but different atomic masses. For
example the three isotopes of the element hydrogen
(tririum,deuterium,protium) each have 1proton and 1
electron but tritium has 2 neutrons, deuterium
has1neutron and protium has no neutron.
Isotopes of elements are shown by writing the atomic
mass of the element followed by the symbol of the
element for example one isotope of carbon is written
C
12
Not all isotopes remain in a stable physical state some
are unstable and radioactive. Such isotopes emit rays
(alpha, beta, and gamma) due to their nuclei
disintegrating in order to become stable. Such rays
although lethal to living cells can be used in a
controlled way in radiotherapy units to kill malignant
cells in the body.
*Molecules and relative molecular masses:- Whereas
an element is composed of only one kind of atom a
compound contains two or more different kinds of
atom. A molecule is the smallest particle of an
element or compound that can normally exist
separately.
For example 2atoms of hydrogen combine with 1
atom of oxygen to form 1 molecule of water.
The relative molecular mass of a molecule(Previously
called molecular weight) is the ratio of the average of
a molecule to1/12 of the mass of the isotope of
carbon(12c). In mathematical terms the relative mass
of a molecule is the sum of all the atomic weights of
which it is composed. Of all the 104 elements known
80 of these are metals.
*Valence:- The valence of a substance is the number
of hydrogen atoms which will combine with liberate
or replace one atom of the substance. For example
the valence of oxygen in water(H2O) is2.
*Equivalent weight:- The equivalent weight is the
weight that combines with liberates or replaces one
atom of hydrogen. This is equal to molecular weight
divided by the valence.
Valence
eight molecularW
*Oxidation :-This is a reaction in which an atom loses
electrons. It is in effect the addition of oxygen or removal of
hydrogen from a substance.
*Reduction:-This is a reaction in which oxgen is
removed or hydrogen added to the substance that is
an atom gains electrons.

*Radicals:-These are units or groups of atoms which
when combined in a compound behave as a single
atom. For example NO3- , SO4-- , NH4+.

*Acid :-It is a substance or compound that fives off
hydrogen ion(H+) in solution and can donate a proton.

*Base:-It is a substance or compound which gives off
hydroxyl ions (OH-) in solution and can accept a
proton.
Base Acid
It has a soapy feel It has a sharp taste
It turns litmus blue It turns litmus red
It neutralizes acid to
produce salt and water
It reacts with carbonates to
produce CO2
An example of acid-base reaction:
O H NaCl NaOH HCL 2
*Neutralisation reaction :-The reaction between an acid and
abase to produce a neutral solution of salt and water is
known as neutralisation reaction a neural solution contains
equal numbers of hydroxyl(OH-) and hydrogen(H+) ions.
Hydrogen ion concentration and PH
Sorensen in1909 divided the units of PH (puis-
sancedhydogen) as strength of hydrogen ions or
POH(puissance dhydroxyl) as strength of hydroxyl ions as a
more convenient way to express the hydrogen ion
concentrations of solutions. PH is defined as the logarithm to
the base10 of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion
concentration.
A solution whether acid or base always contains H+ and OH-
ions. The predominance of one PH of pure

water= Neutral

7 Log10
7

The PH scale is expressed from 0 to 14 units. A neutral

solution has a PH of 7 an acid has a PH less than 7
and an alkali has a PH greater than 7. science strong
acids like hydrochloric acid(HCL) sulphuric
acid(H2SO4) or nitric acid (HNHO3) dissociate
completely in solution they have a very low PH. Weak
acids such as lactic or acetic acid do not completely
dissociate even in dilute solutions and so they have a
comparatively higher pH. The same is true for strong
and weak bases where strong bases have much higher
PH than weak bases.
*Measurement of PH:-
PH can be measured using:-(1)PH papers.

(2)PH meter.