Elements
Elements
Elements
Elements
Modern definition of element is that it is a substance made up of same type of
atoms, having same atomic number and cannot be decomposed into simple
substances by ordinary chemical means.
In the early ages, only nine elements (carbon, gold, silver, tin, mercury, lead,
copper, iron and sulphur) were known. Now 118 elements have been discovered,
out of which 92 are naturally occurring elements.
Elements may be solids, liquids or gases. Majority of the elements exist as solids
e.g. sodium, copper, zinc, gold, etc. There are very few elements which occur in
liquid state e.g. mercury and bromine. A few elements exist as gases e.g. nitrogen,
oxygen, chlorine and hydrogen.
The unique property of an element is valency. It is combining capacity of an
element with other elements. It depends upon the number of electrons in the
outermost
shell.
Compound
Compound is a substance made up of two or more elements chemically combined
together in a fixed ratio by mass. As a result of this combination, elements lose
their own properties and produce new substances (compounds) that have entirely
different properties.
Compounds can be classified as ionic or covalent. Ionic compounds do not exist
in independent molecular form. They form a three dimensional crystal lattice, in
which each ion is surrounded by oppositely charged ions. These compounds are
represented by formula units e.g. NaCl, KBr, CuSO4 . The covalent compounds
mostly exist in molecular form. A molecule is a true representative of the covalent
compound and its formula is called molecular formula e.g. H2 O, HC1, H2 SO4 ,
CH4.
Mixture
When two or more elements or compounds mix up physically without any fixed
ratio, they form a mixture.
The mixture can be separated into parent components by physical methods such as
distillation, filtration, evaporation, crystallisation or magnetization.
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For example:
Mass of Proton = 1.0073 amu or
Mass of Neutron = 1.0087 amu or
Mass of Electron = 5.486 amu or
1. Symbols of two elements are written side by side, in the order of positive ion
first and negative ion later.
2. The valency of each ion is written on the right top corner of its symbol, e.g.
Na , Ca , CI and O2 .
3. This valency of each ion is brought to the lower right corner of other ion by
'crossexchange' method, e.g. They are written as:
4. If the valencies are same, they are offset and are not written in the chemical
formula. But if they are different, they are indicated as such at the same
position, e.g. in case of sodium chloride both the valencies are offset and
formula is written as NaCl, whereas, calcium chloride is represented by
formula CaCl2 .
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Empirical formula
Chemical formulae are of two types. The simplest type of formula is empirical
formula. It is the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a compound.
Theempirical formula of a compound is determined by knowing the percentage
composition of a compound. However, here we will explain it with simple
examples.
The covalent compound silica (sand) has simplest ratio of 1:2 of silicon and
oxygen respectively. Therefore, its empirical formula is SiO . Similarly, glucose
has 2 simplest ratio 1:2:1 of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, respectively. Hence, its
empirical formula is CH O.
Each ion is surrounded by oppositely charged ions in such a way to form
electrically neutral compound. Therefore, the simplest unit taken as a
representative of an ionic compound is called formula unit. It is defined as the
simplest whole number ratio of ions, as present in the ionic compound. In other
words, ionic compounds have only empirical formulae. For example, formula unit
of common salt consists of one Na+ and one CI ion and its empirical formula is
NaCl. Similarly, formula unit of potassium bromide is KBr, which is also its
empirical formula.
Molecular Formula
Molecules are formed by the combination of atoms. These molecules are
represented by molecular formulae that show actual number of atoms of each
element present in a molecule of that compound. Molecular formula is derived
from empirical formula by the following relationship:
Molecular formula = (Empirical formula)n
Where n is 1,2,3 and so on.
For example, molecular formula of benzene is C6H6 which is derived from the
empirical formula CH where the value of n is 6.
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Example
Calculate the molecular mass of Nitric acid, HNO3 .
Solution
Atomic mass of H = 1 amu
Atomic mass of N = 14 amu
Atomic mass of O = 16 amu
Molecular formula = HNO3
Molecular mass = 1 (At. mass of H) + 1 (At. mass of N) + 3 (At. mass of O)
= 1 + 14 + 3(16)
= 1 + 14 + 48
= 63 amu
Example
Calculate the formula mass of Potassium sulphate K2 SO4
Solution
Atomic mass of K = 39 amu
Atomic mass of S = 32 amu
Atomic mass of O = 16 amu
Formula unit = K 2SO4
Formula mass of K 2SO4 = 2(39) + 1(32) + 4(16)
= 78 + 32 + 64
= 174 amu
CHEMICAL SPECIES
Ions (Cations and Anions), Molecular Ions and Free Radicals
Ion is an atom or group of atoms having a charge on it. The charge may be positive
or negative. There are two types of ions i.e. cations and anions.
An atom or group of atoms having positive charge on it is called cation. The
cations are formed when atoms lose electrons from their outermost shells.
For example, Na+, K+ are cations. The following equations show the formation of
cations from atoms.
Atom Cation
H H + 1e-
+
Na Na+ + 1e-
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An atom or a group of atoms that has a negative charge on it, is called anion.
Anion 2 is formed by the gain or addition of electrons to an atom.
For example, Cl- and O-2 .
Following examples show the formation of an anion by addition of electrons to an
atom.
Atom Anion
-
Cl + 1e Cl
Molecular Ion
When a molecule loses or gains an electron, it forms a molecular ion. Hence,
molecular ion or radical is a species having positive or negative charge on it. Like
other ions they can be cationic molecular ions (if they carry positive charge) or
anionic molecular ions (if they carry negative charge). Cationic molecular ions are
more abundant than anionic molecular ions. For example
.
Free Radicals
Free radicals are atoms or group of atoms possessing odd number of (unpaired)
electrons. It is represented by putting a dot over the symbol of an element e.g.
Types of Molecules
A molecule is formed by the chemical combinations of atoms. It is the smallest unit
of a substance. It shows all the properties of the substance and can exist
independently.
There are different types of molecules depending upon the number and types of
atoms combining. A few types are discussed here.
A molecule consisting of only one atom is called monoatomic molecule. For
example, the inert gases helium, neon and argon all exist independently in atomic
form and they are called monoatomic molecules.
If a molecule consists of two atoms, it is called diatomic molecule. For example:
hydrogen (H2 ), oxygen (O2 ), chlorine (Cl2 ) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
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If it consists of three atoms, it is called triatomic molecule. For example :H2 O and
CO2.
If a molecule consists of many atoms, it is called polyatomic. For example:
methane (CH4 ), sulphuric acid (H2SO4 ) and glucose (C6 H12 O6 ).
A Molecule containing same type of atoms, is called homoatomic molecule. For
example: hydrogen (H2 ), ozone (O3 ), sulphur (S8 ) and phosphorus (P4) are the
examples of molecules formed by the same type of atoms.
When a molecule consists of different kinds of atoms, it is called heteroatomic
molecule. For example: CO2 , H2O and NH3 .
Avogadro's Number
Avogadro's Number is a collection of particles. It is represented by
symbol 'N '. Hence, the number of atoms, molecules or formula units
is called Avogadro's number that is equivalent to one 'mole' of respective
substance.
In simple words particles are equal to one mole as twelve eggs are
equal to one dozen.
To understand the relationship between the Avogadro's number and the mole
of a substance let us consider a few examples.
i. atoms of carbon are equivalent to one mole of carbon.
ii. molecules of H2O are equivalent to one mole of water.
iii. formula units of NaCl are equivalent to one mole of sodium
chloride.
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Problem
Calculate the gram molecule (number of moles) in 40 g of H3 PO4.
Solution
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Key points
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