⚡ Topic 1: Rates of Reactions

Rate of Reaction

📊 Definition

The rate of a chemical reaction measures how quickly a reactant is consumed or a product is formed. It's expressed as the change in the amount of a reactant or product per unit time.

💥 Collision Theory

For a chemical reaction to occur:

  • Collisions: Reactant particles must collide with each other.
  • Energy: Collisions must have enough energy to be successful.

A successful collision leads to a reaction. The rate of reaction increases with more successful collisions.

🔑 Key Concept: The minimum energy needed for a successful collision is called activation energy.

🎯 Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction

1. 🔬 Concentration of Reactants

Increasing reactant concentration raises the frequency of collisions, speeding up the reaction.

2. 🌡️ Temperature

Higher temperatures increase the kinetic energy of particles, leading to more frequent and energetic collisions, thus increasing the reaction rate.

3. 📐 Surface Area of Solid Reactants

Smaller solid particles have a larger surface area, allowing more collisions with other reactants, speeding up the reaction.

💡 Example: Powdered solids react faster than lumps.

4. ⚗️ Use of a Catalyst

Catalysts speed up reactions without being consumed. They lower the activation energy, increasing the frequency of successful collisions.

📏 Methods of Measuring Rates of Reactions

Different methods are used based on the reactants and products involved:

1. 🎈 Measuring Volume of Gas Produced

Use a gas syringe to measure the volume of gas released at regular intervals.

2. ⚖️ Measuring Change in Mass

Monitor mass loss as reactants convert to products.

3. ⏰ Time for Reactant to Disappear

Measure how long it takes for a specific mass of reactant to fully react.

4. ⏱️ Time for Product Formation

Measure the time taken to form a certain amount of product.

📋 Example: Measuring the Volume of Gas Produced

When gas is produced, use a gas syringe:

  • Measure the gas volume at regular intervals (e.g., every 30 seconds)
  • Record the plunger position to determine the volume
  • Example: If the plunger reaches 20 cm³, then 20 cm³ of gas has been collected

🔄 Reversible and Irreversible Reactions

A. ↩️ Reversible Reaction

Definition: A reversible reaction is a chemical reaction where products can be converted back into reactants under suitable conditions.

🔵 Example: Hydration and Dehydration of Copper(II) Sulfate

Dehydration: Heating blue hydrated copper(II) sulfate:

CuSO₄·5H₂O (s) → CuSO₄ (s) + 5H₂O (l)

(Blue crystals) → (White powder)

Hydration: Adding water to white anhydrous copper sulfate:

CuSO₄ (s) + 5H₂O (l) → CuSO₄·5H₂O (s)

(White powder) → (Blue crystals)

Overall Reaction:

CuSO₄·5H₂O (s) ⇌ CuSO₄ (s) + 5H₂O (l)

B. ➡️ Irreversible Reaction

Definition: An irreversible reaction is a chemical reaction in which products cannot be converted back into reactants.

🏔️ Example: Decomposition of Calcium Carbonate

When calcium carbonate is heated, it decomposes:

CaCO₃ (s) → CaO (s) + CO₂ (g)

The carbon dioxide escapes into the air, and the reaction cannot be reversed.

🧪 Topic 2: Acids and Bases

👨‍🔬 The Brønsted-Lowry Theory of Acids and Bases

📚 Definition: Developed by Johannes Brønsted and Thomas Lowry, this theory defines acids and bases based on their ability to donate or accept protons (H⁺).

🔴 Acid: A proton donor

HCl → H⁺ + Cl⁻

🔵 Base: A proton acceptor

H₂O + H⁺ → H₃O⁺

⚡ Overall Acid-Base Reaction:

HCl + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + Cl⁻

💧 Formation of the Hydronium Ion (H₃O⁺)

When an acid dissolves in water, it donates protons (H⁺), which are accepted by water, resulting in the formation of hydronium ions (H₃O⁺).

🔗 Conjugate Acids and Conjugate Bases

🟡 Conjugate Acid: Formed when a base gains a proton.

🟢 Conjugate Base: Formed when an acid loses a proton.

📝 Examples of Conjugate Acid-Base Identification:

Example 1:

CH₃COOH + HCl → CH₃COOH₂⁺ + Cl⁻
  • Base: CH₃COOH
  • Acid: HCl
  • Conjugate Acid: CH₃COOH₂⁺
  • Conjugate Base: Cl⁻

Example 2:

HNO₃ + H₂SO₄ → HNO₃⁺ + HSO₄⁻
  • Base: HNO₃
  • Acid: H₂SO₄
  • Conjugate Acid: HNO₃⁺
  • Conjugate Base: HSO₄⁻

Example 3:

HCl + HF → Cl⁻ + H₂F⁺
  • Acid: HCl
  • Base: HF
  • Conjugate Base: Cl⁻
  • Conjugate Acid: H₂F⁺

🤝 Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

📖 Definition: A conjugate acid-base pair consists of two species related by the gain or loss of a proton (H⁺).

NH₃ + H₂O → NH₄⁺ + OH⁻

Pairs: NH₄⁺/NH₃ and H₂O/OH⁻

HNO₃ + H₂SO₄ → HNO₃⁺ + HSO₄⁻

Pairs: H₂SO₄/HSO₄⁻ and HNO₃⁺/HNO₃

CH₃COOH + H₂O → CH₃COO⁻ + H₃O⁺

Pairs: CH₃COOH/CH₃COO⁻ and H₃O⁺/H₂O

💪 Strength of Acids and Bases

🔋 Strong Acids

Completely ionize in water, producing many hydrogen ions.

Examples:

  • HCl (Hydrochloric acid)
  • H₂SO₄ (Sulfuric acid)
  • HNO₃ (Nitric acid)

🔋 Weak Acids

Partially ionize in water, producing fewer hydrogen ions.

Examples:

  • CH₃COOH (Ethanoic acid)
  • H₂CO₃ (Carbonic acid)

⚡ Determining the Strength of Acids and Bases Using Conductivity

🔬 Concept: Acids and bases can conduct electricity due to ionization in water. Strong acids and bases have higher conductivity than weak ones because they ionize completely.

🧰 Materials Needed:

  • Beaker
  • 2 Carbon rods
  • 2 Cells
  • Connecting wires
  • Distilled water
  • Ammeter
  • Solutions: Ethanoic acid, HCl, NaOH, Ammonia

📋 Procedure:

  1. Pour 50 ml of ethanoic acid solution into the beaker
  2. Set up the apparatus
  3. Close the switch and record the ammeter reading
  4. Rinse the beaker and electrodes with distilled water
  5. Repeat using hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and ammonia

✅ Conclusion: The solution with the highest ammeter reading is the strong acid or base, while the one with the lowest reading is the weak acid or base.

⚠️ Control Variables During Conductivity Measurements:

  • Temperature of the solution
  • Electrode surface area
  • Electrode spacing
  • Concentration of the solution

⚖️ Difference Between Strength and Concentration

💪 Strength

Indicates how easily an acid or base ionizes to produce ions (hydrogen ions for acids, hydroxide ions for bases).

📊 Concentration

Refers to the proportion of solute (acid or base) in the solution compared to the solvent (water).

⚛️ Oxides

Oxides are compounds that contain oxygen and another element. They can be classified into three main types:

1. 🟢 Basic Oxides

Formation: Produced when oxygen reacts with metals.

Examples:

  • Magnesium oxide (MgO)
  • Iron(II) oxide (FeO)
  • Copper(II) oxide (CuO)

Characteristics:

  • Typically ionic in nature
  • Most dissolve in water to form alkalis, while some are insoluble
  • Can neutralize acids

2. 🔴 Acidic Oxides

Formation: Produced when oxygen reacts with non-metals.

Examples:

  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
  • Phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅)

Characteristics:

  • Form acidic solutions when dissolved in water, turning blue litmus paper red

3. 🟣 Amphoteric Oxides

Characteristics: Have both acidic and basic properties.

Reactivity: React with both acids and bases to form salts and water.

Examples:

  • Aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃)
  • Zinc oxide (ZnO)
  • Lead(II) oxide (PbO)

🌡️ Ways of Regulating pH in Different Environments

Maintaining appropriate pH levels is crucial for efficient functioning in various environments:

a. 🍽️ The Human Digestive System

  • Role of Hydrochloric Acid: Aids in protein digestion
  • Problem: Excess hydrochloric acid can cause discomfort
  • Solution: Antacids (e.g., magnesium hydroxide) are used to neutralize excess acid

b. 🌱 Soil and Water Acidity

  • Problem: Prolonged use of fertilizers can increase soil acidity. Acidic gases can also make water more acidic
  • Solution: Adding lime (calcium hydroxide) helps neutralize acidity

🧂 Ways of Preparing Salts

Salts are formed when the hydrogen ion of an acid is replaced by a metal or ammonium radical. Methods for preparing salts include:

1. ⚗️ Reaction of an Acid with a Soluble Base (Alkali)

Method: Titration is used for reactive metals like sodium or potassium.

Example:

HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H₂O (l)

2. 🔧 Reaction of an Acid with a Metal

Method: Used for less reactive metals (e.g., Mg, Zn).

Example:

Mg (s) + 2HNO₃(aq) → Mg(NO₃)₂(aq) + H₂(g)

3. 🏔️ Reaction of an Acid with a Carbonate

Method: Any metal carbonate can react with an acid.

Example:

CuCO₃(s) + 2HNO₃(aq) → Cu(NO₃)₂(aq) + CO₂(g) + H₂O (l)

4. ⚛️ Reaction of an Acid with an Insoluble Base

Method: For unreactive metals (e.g., Pb, Cu), neutralization occurs with metal oxides.

Example:

H₂SO₄(aq) + CuO (s) → CuSO₄(aq) + H₂O (l)

5. 💧 Precipitation

Method: Mixing two soluble solutions to form an insoluble salt.

Example:

BaCl₂(aq) + Na₂SO₄(aq) → BaSO₄(s) + 2NaCl (aq)

📋 Solubility Rules

📝 General Rules:

✅ All potassium (K), sodium (Na), and ammonium (NH₄) salts are soluble.

✅ All nitrates and hydrogen carbonates are soluble.

⚠️ Most sulfates are soluble, except for lead (PbSO₄) and barium (BaSO₄); calcium sulfate (CaSO₄) is sparingly soluble.

⚠️ Most chlorides are soluble, except silver chloride (AgCl) and lead chloride (PbCl₂) (soluble only in hot water).

❌ Most carbonates are insoluble, except for those of potassium, sodium, and ammonium.

🌍 Applications of Precipitation Reactions

a. 🚰 Treatment of Water for Domestic Use

Process: Sodium carbonate is used to precipitate toxic cations as insoluble carbonates, which are then filtered out. It also softens hard water by precipitating hardness-causing ions.

b. 🏭 Treatment of Industrial Effluents

Process: Precipitation is used to remove toxic ions from liquid wastes. Insoluble solids formed can be removed through sedimentation or filtration.

c. 🌱 Soil Remediation

Use: Precipitation can help immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soils.

Example: Adding reagents to form insoluble compounds, preventing metal uptake by plants.

d. 🔬 Laboratory Analysis

Use: Precipitation reactions are used to determine the concentration of specific ions in a solution.

Example: Silver nitrate can be added to a solution containing chloride ions to form a white precipitate of silver chloride.

e. 💊 Medicine

Use: Precipitation reactions are employed in drug formulation and delivery.

Example: Forming insoluble drug compounds can control the release rate of medications in the body.