BASIC CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY

Definition:It is that branch of basic science which deals with composition,structure and
properties of matter.
Any thing which has certain mass and it occupies some space is known as matter.
Matter can exists in three physical states,solid,liquid and gas
Solids:They have definite volume and definite shape.The partiles are very close to each other
inan orderly fashion.There is not much freedom of movement of particle about their fixed
positions.
Liquids:They have definite volume but no definite shape.they assume the shape of the container
in which they are kept.The particles are comparatively less closer,but the particles of liquid can
move around.
Gases:They have neither definite volume nor definite shape.They completely occupy the
container in which they are placed.The inter particle distances are far apart in comparison to
their corresponding liquids or gases.The particle movements are easy and fast.

The three states of matter are interconvertible by the changing the conditions of temperature and
pressure.Usually,on heating the solid it changes to liquid and liquid on further heating converted
to gas.In reverse process,a gas further cooling liquefies to liquid and the liquid on further cooling
freezes to solid state.
Sublimation:The conversion between solid and gaseous phases of matter with no intermediate
liquid stage.e.g vapourization of frozen carbon dioxide(dry ice) at normal temperature and
pressure.
At macroscopic or bulk level,the matter may be classified as follows:

Pure Matter:They have fixed composition.e.g Copper,Silver.Gold,Water,Glucose etc.

Elements:It consists of only one type of particles(atoms/molecules)

Compounds:Two or more atoms of different elements chemically combine in fixed ratio to form
molecule of a compound.e.g water,Carbon dioxide,Methane,Ammonia etc
Mixture:It is a combinations of two or more substances (called components of the mixture) in any
ratio and their composition is variable.e.g sugar solution in water,air ,mixture oil with water etc.
Homogenous Mixture:It is that type of mixture in which components completely mix with each
other such that the composition is uniform through out.e.g sugar solution,air etc.
Heterogenous Mixture:It is that type of mixture in which components intermix with each other in
such a manner that the composition is not uniform through out.e.g mixture of salt and
sugar,Mixture of grains and pulses etc
 The Laws of Chemical Combination
There are several laws of chemical combination which are enuciated by different
Scientists/Chemists in the last part of nineteenth century which govern the combination of
elements to form different compounds.
1. Law of conservation of mass
2. Law of definite proportions
3. Law of multiple Proportion
4.Gaylussac's law of gaseous Volume
5.Avogadro's Law

1. Law of Consrvation of Mass:This law was put forth by Antoine Lavoisier in 1789.
It states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed.
It was evident from various chemical reactions the sum of masses of reactants is
exactly equal to masses of products.
2. Law of definite proportions:This law was put forth by a French Chemist Joseph Proust.
It states that a given compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by their
weights.
Whether a compound is natural or synthetic,the composition of elements present in it was same
for both the samples.He collected two samples of cupric carbonate both from natural and
synthetic origin and found percentage of composition are fixed for both the samples i.e % of
copper-51.35,% of Oxygen 9.74 and % of carbon 38.91.
3. Law of Multiple Proportions:It was proposed by John Dalton in 1803.According to this law,if
two elements can combine to form more than one compound,the masses of one element that
combine the fixed mass of other element are in ratio of small whole numbers. i.e Hydrogen
combines with oxygen to form water and hydrogen peroxide.It has been obseved that 02 grams
of hydrogen combines with 16 grams of oxygen to form 18 grams of water and again same 2
grams of hydrogen combines with 32 grams of oxygen to form 34 grams of hydrogen
peroxide.Hence the masses oxygen are 16 grams and 32 grams bears a simple whole
ratio,16:32=1:2
4. Gay Lussac's Law of gaseous volumes:This was given by Gay Lussac in 1808.As per the
law,when gases combine or are produced in a chemical reaction, they do so in a simple ratio by
volume provided all the gases are at same temperature and pressure.e.g 100 ml hydrogen
combine with 50 ml of oxygen to form 100 ml of water.Thus the volumes of hydrogen and oxygen
are in ratio,100:50=2:1
5. Avogadro's Law:Avogadro proposed a law in 1811.It states that equal volume of gases at
same temperature and pressure should contain equal numbers of molecules.

DALTON'S ATOMIC THEORY:In 1808,John Dalton published his famous book,'A New System
in Chemical Phylosophy' in which he postulated details on Atomic Theory. as follows,
i) Matter consists of indivisible particles called atoms
ii) All the atoms a given element have identical properties including identical masses.Atoms of
different elements differ in their masses.
iii) Compounds are formed when the atoms of different elements combine in a fixed ratio.
iv)Chemical reactions involve reorganization of atoms.They are neither created nor destroyed in
a chemical reaction.
Drawbaks:i)It could not expain the existence of isotopes
ii) It could not explain the structure of atoms
iii) It could not explain the divisibility of atom.
Atomic and Molecular Masses:
The mass of the atom is very very small.It may be accurately determined by
the modern method of mass spectrometry.In nineteenth century,scientists adopted relative mass
concept.The mass of the hydrogen being lightest was taken as unit mass.The atomic masses of
all other elements are compared with that of the hydogen.But in 1961,it was agreed upon by the
scientists to take atom 12C isotope as standard of atomic mass and it was assigned as 12 atomic
mass units(amu).Accordingly,one atomic mass unit was defined as 1/12 part of atom of 12C
isotope.
1 amu=1.66056x10-24 grams
Mass of one atom of hydrogen=1.6736x10-24grams
In terms of amu,the atomic mass of hydrogen=1.6736x10-24g/1.66056x10-24g=1.0078 amu or
say1.008amu
Atomic mass of Oxygen=15.995amu
Now a days,amu is replaced by u(unified mass)

Average Atomic Mass:Many natural occuring elements exist as more than one isotope. While
calculating average atomic mass we take into account all the isotopes of an element and their
relative abundance in nature in terms of per cent age. e.g Carbon has three isotopes 12C,13C and
14
C.

Average atomic Mass of Carbon=0.98892X12+0.01108X13.00335+2x10-10X14.00317=12.011u

Atomic masses mentioned in modern periodic table are their average atomic masses.

Molecular Mass:The molecular mass is the sum of average atomic masses of the elements
present in a molecule.It is obtained by multiplying atomic masses of each element by the number
of atoms and adding them together.e.g Molecular mass of methane(CH4)
12.011+1.008X4=16.043u

Formula Mass:The formula mass of the molecule is sum atomic weights of atoms in the empirical
formula of the compound.

Mole Concept and Molar Masses:One mole is that amount of substance that contains as many
particles or entities as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams 12C isotope
No of Molecules in one mole of a substance=12g of 12C isotope/Mass of one atom of 12C
isotope=12g/1.992648X10-23g=6.0221367X1023.This is known as Avogadro's Number
The mass of one mole of a substance in grams is known as the molar mass

Percentage Composition:Mass% of an element in a compound

=mass of element in compoundX100/Molar mass of the compound
Let take % composition of Hydrogen and Oxygen in water(H2O)
Molar mass of water=18.02g
Mass % of hydrogen=2X1.008/18.2=11.18
Mass% of oxygen=16/18.2=88.79

Empirical Formula and molecular formula:An empirical formula represents the simplest whole
number ratio of various atoms present in the compound where as molecular formula shows the
exact number of atoms present in a molecule of a compound.

Limiting Reagent:If in a chemical reaction,if one of the reactants is in lesser amount as required
in balanced chemical reaction,then it gets consumed and limits amount product formed is known
as Limiting Reagent.