Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry: Chemistry Is The Branch of Science That Deals With The Preparation, Properties
Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry: Chemistry Is The Branch of Science That Deals With The Preparation, Properties
Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry: Chemistry Is The Branch of Science That Deals With The Preparation, Properties
Matter: Matter is anything that occupies space and has a definite mass. Based on the physical state we
can divide matter into different categories.
1. Solid state
2. Liquid state
3. Gaseous state
4. Plasma state
5. Bose-Einstein condensate
6. Fermionic condensate
7. Quark-Gluon Plasma
In earth crust, matter mainly exists in three physical states – solid state, liquid state and gaseous
state.
In solids, the particles are orderly arranged and they are very close to each other. The particles
cannot move freely. So solids have definite shape and definite volume.
In liquids, the particles are close to each other but they can move around. So, liquids have definite
volume but do not have definite shape.
In gases, the particles are far apart as compared to those present in solid or liquid states and their
movement is easy and fast. So they do not have definite shape and volume. They take the shape of the
container in which they are placed. Also they occupy the complete space of the container in which they
are placed.
The three states of matter are interconvertible by changing the conditions of temperature and
pressure.
Classification of matter
Based on the chemical composition, matter can be divided into two categories – pure substances and
mixtures.
Pure substances contain only one type of particles. E.g. Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Hydrogen
(H), Oxygen (O), Helium (He), carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), ammonia (NH3), cane sugar (C12H22O11)
etc.
Pure substances are classified into two – elements and compounds.
Elements are pure substances which contain only one type of atom. The term element was first
introduced by Robert Boyle, the father of ancient Chemistry. Now there are 118 elements starting from
hydrogen (1H) and ending in Oganesson (118Og). Some elements exist as monoatomic, some are diatomic
and some others are polyatomic. E.g. all metals (Sodium, Potassium, Calcium etc) and noble gases
(Helium, Neon etc.) are monoatomic. Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen etc are diatomic. Phosphorus (P4) and
Sulphur (S8) are polyatomic.
Compounds are pure substances which contain more than one type of atoms. They are formed
by the combination of two or more atoms of different elements in a definite ratio. Their constituents
cannot be separated by physical methods, but they can be separated by chemical methods.
E.g. CO2, H2O, NH3, H2SO4 etc.
Mixtures contain more than one type of particles. The components of a mixture can be
separated by using physical methods like filtration, crystallisation, distillation etc.
E.g. all types of solutions, gold ornaments, sea water, muddy water, air etc.
There are two types of mixtures – homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures.
Mixtures having uniform composition throughout are called homogeneous mixtures. Here the
components are completely mixed with each other. E.g. all type of solutions, air etc.
Mixtures having different compositions at different parts are called heterogeneous mixtures.
E.g. sea water, soil. Muddy water etc.
Physical and chemical properties
The properties or characteristics of matter can be classified into two types — physical properties
and chemical properties.
Properties which can be measured or observed without changing the composition or identity of the
substance are called physical properties. Measurement of physical properties does not require the
occurrence of a chemical change.
E.g. colour, odour, melting point, boiling point, density, mass etc.
Properties which can be measured only with the occurrence of a chemical change are called chemical
properties. E.g. composition, combustibility, reactivity with acids and bases, etc.
Measurement of physical properties
Any quantitative observation or measurement is represented by a number followed by units in
which it is measured. Earlier, two different systems of measurement were used: the English System and
the Metric System.
Now a days, a common standard system known as International System of Units (SI) is used. This
system has seven base units and they are length, mass, time, electric current, thermodynamic
temperature, amount of substance and luminous intensity. Their SI units are as follows:
Physical Quantity SI unit & its symbol Electric current ampere (A)
Length metre (m) Thermodynamic temperature kelvin (K)
Mass kilogram (kg) Amount of substance mole (mol)
Time second (s) Luminous intensity candela (cd)
Mass and Weight
Mass is the amount of matter present in a body. It is a constant quantity. Its SI unit is kilogram (kg).
Weight is the gravitational force acting on a body. It is a variable quantity. i.e. it changes with place. Its SI
unit is newton (N).
Volume (V)
It is the amount of space occupied by a body. Its SI unit is m3. In Chemistry, smaller volumes are used.
Hence, volume is often denoted in cm3, dm3, mL, L etc.
1 m3 = 106 cm3 1 L = 103 cm3 (mL)
1cm3 = 1 mL 1 dm3 = 103 cm3
Density (d)
It is the amount of mass per unit volume.
i.e. density = mass/volume. Its SI unit is kg/m3. But it is commonly expressed in g/cm3.
Temperature (T)
It is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body. It is commonly expressed in degree celsius (0C). Other
units are degree fahrenheit (0F), kelvin (K) etc. Its SI unit is kelvin (K).
Degree celsius and degree fahrenheit are related as:
0
F = 9/5(0C) + 32
Degree celsius and kelvin are related as:
K = 0C + 273.15 OR, K = 0C + 273
Precision and Accuracy
Precision refers to the closeness of various measurements for the same quantity. But,
accuracy is the agreement of a particular value to the true value of the result.
Scientific Notation
It is an exponential notation in which a number is represented in the form N × 10n, where n is an
exponent having positive or negative values and N is a number (called digit term) which varies between
1.000... and 9.999.....
While writing scientific notation, the value of the exponent ‘n’ becomes positive, when the
decimal is shifted to left and it becomes negative, when the decimal is shifted to right.
E.g. the scientific notation of 368.9 is 3.689 x 102 and that of 0.000563 is 5.63 x 10-4.
Significant Figures
Every experimental measurement has some amount of uncertainty associated with it. The
uncertainty in the experimental or the calculated values is indicated by mentioning the number of
significant figures. Significant figures are meaningful digits which are known with certainty. The
uncertainty is indicated by writing the certain digits and the last uncertain digit.
There are certain rules for determining the number of significant figures. These are:
1. All non-zero digits are significant. For example in 285 cm, there are three significant figures and
in 0.25 mL, there are two significant figures.
2. Zeros preceding to first non-zero digit are not significant. Such zero indicates the position of the
decimal point. Thus, 0.03 has one significant figure and 0.0052 has two significant figures.
3. Zeros between two non-zero digits are significant. Thus, 2.005 has four significant figures.
4. Zeros at the end or right of a number are significant if they are on the right side of the decimal
point; otherwise, they are not significant. For example, 0.200 g has three significant figures.
5. Exact numbers have an infinite number of significant figures. For example, in 2 balls or 20 eggs,
there are infinite significant figures since these are exact numbers and can be represented by
writing infinite number of zeros after placing a decimal i.e., 2 = 2.000000 or 20 = 20.000000
6. In numbers written in scientific notation, all digits are significant. E.g. 4.01×102 has three
significant figures, and 8.256×10–3 has four significant figures.
Rounding off a number to the required number of significant figures
The rules related to rounding off a number are:
1) If the rightmost digit to be removed is more than 5, the preceding number is increased by one.
E.g. 1.386 can be round off to three significant figures, by removing 6. So it becomes 1.39.
2) If the rightmost digit to be removed is less than 5, the preceding number is not changed.
E.g. In 4.334, if 4 is to be removed, then the result is rounded upto 4.33.
3) If the rightmost digit to be removed is 5, then the preceding number is not changed if it is an
even number but it is increased by one if it is an odd number.
For example, if 6.35 is to be rounded by removing 5, we have to increase 3 to 4 giving 6.4 as the
result. But if 6.25 is to be rounded off, it becomes 6.2.
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4. Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes: This law was proposed by Gay Lussac. It states that
when gases combine to form gaseous products, their volumes are in simple whole
number ratio at constant temperature and pressure.
Illustration: H2 combines with O2 to form water vapour according to the equation 2H2(g) + O2(g) →
2H2O(g). If 100 mL of hydrogen combine with 50 mL of oxygen, we get 100 mL of water vapour.
Thus, the volumes of hydrogen and oxygen which combine together (i.e. 100 mL and 50 mL) bear a
simple ratio of 2:1.
5. Avogadro’s Law: This law was proposed by Amedeo Avogadro. It states that equal volumes
of all gases at the same temperature and pressure should contain equal number of
moles or molecules.
Illustration: If we take 10L each of NH3, N2, O2 and CO2 at the same temperature and pressure, all of
them contain the same number of moles and molecules.
DALTON’S ATOMIC THEORY
The term atom was first used by John Dalton from the Greek word a-tomio (means indivisible).
He proposed the first atomic theory. The important postulates of this theory are:
1. Matter is made up of minute and indivisible particles called atoms.
2. Atoms can neither be created nor be destroyed.
3. Atoms of same element are identical in their properties and mass. While atoms of
different elements have different properties and mass.
4. Atoms combined to form compound atoms called molecules.
5. When atoms combine, they do so in a fixed ratio by mass.
Dalton’s theory could explain the laws of chemical combination.
Atoms and Molecules
Atom is the smallest particle of an element. Molecules are the smallest particle of a substance. A
molecule has all the properties of that substance.
Types of molecules
Based on the type of atoms, molecules are divided into two: homonuclear molecule and
heteronuclear molecule.
A molecule containing only one type of atom is called homonuclear molecule. E.g. H2, O2, N2, O3 (ozone)
etc
Heteronuclear molecules contain different types of atoms. E.g. CO2, H2O, C6H12O6, NH3 etc.
Based on the no. of atoms there are three types of molecules: monoatomic, diatomic and polyatomic
molecules.
Monoatomic molecules contain only one atom. E.g. all metals, noble gases like He, Ne, Ar etc.
Diatomic molecules contain 2 atoms. E.g. H2, O2, N2, halogens (F2, Cl2, Br2 and I2)
Polyatomic molecules contain more than two atoms. E.g. ozone (O3), Phosphorus (P4), Sulphur (S8) etc.
Atomic mass
Atomic mass (Relative atomic mass) of an element is a number that expresses how many times
the mass of an atom of the element is greater than 1/12th the mass of a C12 atom.
For e.g. atomic mass of Nitrogen is 14, which means that mass of one N atom is 14 times greater
than 1/12th the mass of a C12 atom.
Atomic mass unit (amu): 1/12th the mass of a C12 atom is called atomic mass unit (amu).
i.e. 1 amu = 1/12 x mass of a C12 atom
= 1.66 x 10-24 g
= 1.66 x 10-27 kg
Nowadays, ‘amu’ has been replaced by ‘u’ which is known as unified mass.
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Average atomic mass:
Most of the elements have isotopes. So we can calculate an average atomic mass of an element
by considering the atomic mass of the isotopes and their relative abundance. For e.g. chlorine has two
isotopes 35Cl and 37Cl in the ratio 3:1. So the average atomic mass Cl =(3x35 + 1x37)/4 =35.5
Molecular mass:
Molecular mass is the sum of atomic masses of the elements present in a molecule. It is obtained
by multiplying the atomic mass of each element by the number of its atoms and adding them together.
For e.g. molecular mass of H2SO4 is calculated as: 2 x 1 + 32 + 4 x 16 = 98 u.
Formula mass:
In the case of ionic compounds (like NaCl), there is no discrete (separate) molecules. Here the
positive ions and the negative ions are arranged in a three-dimensional structure. So we can calculate
only formula mass by taking molecular formula of the compound.
Mole concept
Mole is the unit of amount of substance. It is defined as the amount of substance that
contains as many particles as there are atoms in exactly 12 g C12 isotope.
1 mole of any substance contains 6.022 x 1023 atoms [602213670000000000000000 atoms]. This
number is known as Avogadro number or Avogadro constant (NA or N0).
1 mol of hydrogen atoms = 6.022×1023 atoms
1 mol of water molecules = 6.022×1023 water molecules
1 mol of sodium chloride = 6.022 × 1023 formula units of sodium chloride
No. of moles (n) = Given mass in gram (w)
Molar mass (M)
No. of molecules = no. of moles x 6.022 × 1023
Molar mass: The mass of one mole of a substance in gram is called its molar mass (gram
molecular mass). The molar mass in grams is numerically equal to molecular mass in u.
Molar mass of oxygen = 32g
Molar mass of hydrogen = 2g etc.
Molar volume: It is the volume of 1 mole of any substance. At standard temperature and pressure (STP),
molar volume of any gas = 22.4 L (or, 22400 mL). i.e. 22.4 L of any gas at STP contains 1 mole of
the gas or 6.022 x 1023 molecules of the gas and its mass = molar mass.
For e.g. 22.4 L of hydrogen gas = 1 mole of H2 = 6.022x1023 molecules of hydrogen = 2 g of H2
Q1) How many moles of water molecules are present in 180 g of water?
Ans: No. of moles = Given mass in gram = 180 = 10 mol
Molar mass 18
Percentage composition
It is the percentage of each element present in 100g of sample of a substance.
i.e. Percentage composition of an element = Mass of that element in the compound x 100
Molar mass of the compound
Applications: We can check the purity of a given sample of a substance. Also by knowing the percentage
composition, we can calculate the empirical and molecular formula of a compound.
Empirical and Molecular formulae
Empirical formula is the simplest formula of a compound, which gives only the ratio
of different elements present in that compound. But molecular formula is the actual
formula of the compound, that gives the exact number of different elements present in
the sample. For e.g. the empirical formula of glucose is CH2O but its molecular formula is C6H12O6.
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Molecular formula is related to empirical formula by the equation:
Molecular formula (M.F) = Empirical formula (E.F) x n
Where n = Molecular mass (MM)
Empirical formula mass (EFM)
By knowing the percentage composition, we can calculate the empirical and molecular formula of a
compound as follows:
Q2) An organic compound on analysis gave the following composition. Carbon =
40%, Hydrogen = 6.66% and oxygen = 53.34%. Calculate its molecular formula if
its molecular mass is 180.
Ans:
Element Percentage Atomic mass Percentage Simple ratio Simplest whole
Atomic mass no. ratio
C 40 12 40/12 = 3.33 3.33/3.33 = 1 1
H 6.66 1 6.66/1 = 6.66 6.66/3.33 = 2 2
O 53.34 16 53.34/16 = 3.33 3.33/3.33 = 1 1
Empirical Formula = CH2O
Empirical Formula Mass (EFM) = 12+2+16 = 30
Molar mass (MM) = 180
n = MM/EFM = 180/30 = 6
Molecular formula = Empirical formula x n = (CH2O) x 6 = C6H12O6
Stoichiometry and Stoichiometric calculations
The word ‘stoichiometry’ is derived from two Greek words – stoicheion (meaning element) and
metron (meaning measure). Thus stoichiometry deals with the calculations involving the masses or the
volumes of reactants and the products.
Chemical Equation
It is the representation of a chemical reaction by symbols and formulae. Here the reactants are
written in the left-hand side and the products, on the right-hand side. (The substances which participate
in a chemical reaction are called reactants and the substances which are formed as a result of a reaction
are called products).
A chemical equation should be balanced and the physical states of reactants and products are
written in brackets.
The following information are obtained from a chemical equation.
1. An idea about the reactants and products and their physical states.
2. An idea about the masses of reactants and products.
3. An idea about the number moles and molecules of reactants and products.
4. An idea about the volumes of reactants and products at STP.
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Q3) A reaction mixture for the production of NH3 gas contains 250 g of N2 gas and 50 g
of H2 gas under suitable conditions. Identify the limiting reactant if any and calculate
the mass of NH3 gas produced.
Ans: Nitrogen reacts with Hydrogen to form ammonia according to the equation,
N2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
28g 6g 34g
28g N2 requires 6g H2 for the complete reaction.
So, 250g N2 requires, 6x 250/28 = 53.57g H2.
But here there is only 50g H2.
So we have to consider the reverse case.
i.e. 6g H2 requires 28g N2.
So, 50g H2 requires 28 x 50/6 = 233.33g N2
Here H2 is completely consumed. So it is the limiting reagent.
Amount of ammonia formed = 50+ 233.33 = 283.33 g
Reactions in solutions
Solutions are homogeneous mixture containing 2 or more components. The component which is present
in larger quantity is called solvent and the other components are called solutes. Or, the substance which
is dissolved is called solute and the substance in which solute is dissolved is called solvent.
For e.g. in NaCl solution, NaCl is the solute and water is the solvent.
A solution containing only 2 components are called binary solution. If the solvent is water, it is
called aqueous solution.
The composition of a solution is expressed in terms of concentration. It is defined as the amount of
solute present in a given volume of solution. Concentration can be expressed in the following ways:
1. Mass percent (w/w or m/m): It is defined as the number of parts solute present in 100
parts by mass of solution.
i.e. Mass % of a component = Mass of solute × 100
Mass of solution
2. Mole fraction: It is defined as the ratio of the number of moles of a particular
component to the total number of moles of solution.
i.e. Mole fraction of a component = Number of moles of the component
Total number of moles of all the components
For example, in a binary solution, if the number of moles of A and B are nA and nB respectively,
then mole fraction of the component A (χA) = nA
nA + nB
and mole fraction of the component B (χB) = nB
nA + nB
χA + χB = 1
i.e. the sum of the mole fractions of all the components in a solution is always equal to 1.
If there are 1,2,3, …….. i components, then χ1 + χ2 + χ3 + ........................... + χi = 1
3. Molarity (M): It is the number of moles of solute dissolved per litre of solution.
i.e. Molarity (M) = Number of moles of solute (n)
Volume of solution in litre (V)
1 M NaOH solution means 1 mole of NaOH is present in 1 L of solution.
When a solution is diluted from one concentration to another, its new concentration can be
calculated by the equation: M1V1 = M2V2.
Where M1 - initial molarity, M2 - final molarity, V1 - initial volume and V2 - final volume.
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4. Molality (m): It is defined as the number of moles of solute present per kilogram (kg)
of the solvent.
i.e. Molality (m) = Number of moles of solute
Mass of solvent in kg
Among the concentration terms, molarity depends on temperature because it is related to
volume, which changes with temperature. All the others are temperature independent.
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