SimplyChem | Furqan Farooqi 2

CHAPTER 1
SOME BASIC CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY

Units
Length Volume Temperature Pressure

SI unit = m SI units - m3 SI unit – SI unit – Pa or Nm-2

Kelvin (K)

1pm (picometer) = 10-12 m 1m3 = 1000 L K = °C + 273.15 1atm = 1.01325 × 105Pa

1Å (Angstrom) = 10-10 m 1L = 1000ml = o

F = 9/5(oC) + 32 1bar = 105Pa
1000 cm3

1nm (nanometer) = 10-9 m 1dm3 = 1L 1atm = 1.01325 bar

1µm (micrometer) = 10-6 m 1 Gallon = 1atm = 760mmHg = 760 torr

4.546 L

1mm (milimeter) = 10-3 m 1bar = 750 mmHg = 750 torr

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Scientific Notation (Exponential Notation)

Any number can be represented in the form N × 10n where n is an exponent having positive or negative
values and N can vary between 1 to 10.

Significant Figures are meaningful digits which are known with certainty. The uncertainty is
indicated by writing the certain digits and the last uncertain digit. Thus, if we write a result as 11.2 mL,
we say the 11 is certain and 2 is uncertain and the uncertainty would be ± 1 in the last digit. Unless
otherwise stated, an uncertainty of +1 in the last digit is always
understood.
There are certain rules for determining the number of significant figures. These are stated below:
• 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.
• Zeros preceding to first non-zero digit are not significant. Such zero indicates the position of
decimal point. Thus, 0.03 has one significant figure and 0.0052 has two significant figures. • Zeros
between two non-zero digits are significant. Thus, 2.005 has four significant figures. • Zeros at the
end or right of a number are significant provided they are on the right side of the decimal point.
For example, 0.200 g has three significant figures. But, if otherwise, the terminal zeros are not
significant if there is no decimal point. For example, 100 has only one significant figure, but 100.
has three significant figures and 100.0 has four significant figures. Such numbers are better
represented in scientific notation. We can express the number 100 as 1×102 for one significant
figure, 1.0×102for two significant figures and 1.00×102for three significant figures.
• Counting numbers of objects, for example, 2 balls or 20 eggs, have infinite significant figures as
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.
• In numbers written in scientific notation, all digits are significant e.g., 4.01×102has three
significant figures, and 8.256 × 10–3has four significant figures.
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Laws of Chemical Combination

1. Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed.

2. Law of Definite Proportions states that a given compound always contains exactly the same
proportion of elements by weight.

3. Law of Multiple Proportions states that if two elements can combine to form more than one
compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element, are
in the ratio of small whole numbers.
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4. Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes: This law was given by Gay Lussac in 1808. He
observed that when gases combine or are produced in a chemical reaction, they do so in a
simple ratio by volume provided all gases are at same temperature and pressure.

5. Avogadro’s law: In 1811, Avogadro proposed that equal volumes of gases at the same
temperature and pressure should contain equal number of molecules.

Dalton’s Atomic Theory

• Matter consists of indivisible atoms.

• All the atoms of a given element have identical properties including identical mass. Atoms of
different elements differ in mass.
• Compounds are formed when atoms of different elements combine in a fixed ratio. • Chemical
reactions involve reorganization of atoms. These are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical
reaction.
• Dalton‘s theory could explain the laws of chemical combination.

Atomic Mass
It is the mass of one atom of an element.
Atomic mass unit (amu) is defined as a mass exactly equal to one twelfth the mass of one carbon - 12 atom.
Now it is called “u” (unified mass)
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Isotopes
They are the atoms of same element having similar atomic number but different mass

number. Average Atomic 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.
e.g. Molecular mass of methane, (CH4) = (12 u) + 4 (1 u) = 16 u
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Formula Unit Mass: It is the mass of one formula unit of an ionic salt.

Vapour Density
It is defined as the density of a gas or a vapour with respect to the density of hydrogen
gas. Using ideal gas equation, we get,

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Mole Concept
Number of moles is used to determine the amount of a substance.

1 mole of a substance is -

1. the mass equal to atomic or molecular mass of a substance in grams.

OR
23
2. 6.022 X 10 entities (atoms/molecules/ions/particles) of that substance.
OR
3. 22.4 L of a gas at STP (temperature = 273.15K & pressure = 1atm)
or
22.7 L of a gas at STP (temperature = 273.15K & pressure = 1bar)

Examples-
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MOLAR MASS: it is defined as the mass of one mole of a substance. Measured in gmol-1

GRAM ATOMIC MASS: atomic or molecular mass in grams.

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Questions
1. Calculate the number of moles in
a. 50 g of CH4
b. 3.011 x 1023 atoms of He.
c. 100L of oxygen gas at STP.
2. What is the molar mass of a substance if 1.2044 x 1023 atoms of this substance weigh 46g?
3. Calculate the number of atoms in
a. 20g of Calcium
b. 22.4 L of oxygen gas at STP
c. 10 moles of sodium
d. 10g of nitrogen gas.
e. 5.5 moles of chlorine gas
f. 67.2L of He gas at STP
4. What is the molar mass of a gas whose 10g occupy a volume of 20 L at STP?
5. How many atoms of Oxygen are there in 22g of CO2?
6. How many atoms are there in 4.25g of NH3.
7. How many moles of hydrogen atom are there in
(i) 2 moles of H2SO4
(ii) 5 moles o CH3COOH
(iii) 10 moles of HCl
8. Calculate the volume occupied by the following gases at STP.
(i) 3 moles of He
(ii) 32g of He
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Percentage Composition

Mass % of an element =mass of that element in the compound

molar mass of the compound × 100

Empirical Formula represents the simplest whole number ratio of various atoms present in a
compound

Molecular Formula shows the exact number of different types of atoms present in a molecule
of a compound.

Molecular formula = n × Empirical formula

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‘n’ is called common factor �� =
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Calculating Empirical Formula And Molecular Formula

Calculate the empirical formula of a compound containing 42.1 % carbon, 6.43% Hydrogen and
51.46% oxygen. Also calculate the molecular formula of the compound. the molecular mass of the
compound is 60u.
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Element Percentage Atomic Simplest ratio (divide all Simplest
Mass ������������ values with smallest value whole No.
of atomic ratio) ratio.
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=�����
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Questions
9. Determine the empirical formula of an oxide of iron, which has 69.9% iron and 30.1%
dioxygen by mass.
10. Calculate the empirical and molecular formula of a compound containing 40% carbon, 6.67%
hydrogen and 53.33% oxygen. The molecular mass of the compound was found to be 180u. 11. A
compound contains 4.07% hydrogen, 24.27% carbon and 71.65% chlorine. Its molar mass is
98.96 g. What are its empirical and molecular formulas?
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Stoichiometry and Stoichiometric Calculations

Questions
12. What mass of Hydrogen gas is required to completely react with 100g of oxygen to produce
water?
13. What mass of ammonia will be produces when 10g of nitrogen reacts with excess of
hydrogen?
14. 20g of carbon undergoes complete combustion. Calculate the mass of oxygen used. 15.
How many moles of Ammonia will be produces when 10g of nitrogen reacts with excess of
hydrogen?
16. What mass of CO2 will be produced on combustion of 2.5 moles of Carbon?
17. How many liters of Chlorine gas at STP is needed to prepare 0.5 moles of HCl? 18.
10L of methane at STP undergoes spontaneous combustion. What mass of CO2 will be
produced?
19. A welding fuel gas contains carbon and hydrogen only. Burning a small sample of it in
oxygen gives 3.38 g carbon dioxide, 0.690 g of water and no other products. A volume of
10.0 L (measured at STP) of this welding gas is found to weigh 11.6 g. Calculate (i) empirical
formula, (ii) molar mass of the gas, and (iii) molecular formula
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Limiting Reagent
The reactant which is present in the lesser amount and gets consumed during the course of the reaction
is called limiting reagent. It also decides the amount of the product formed.

Questions
20. In a reaction
A + B2 → AB2
Identify the limiting reagent, if any, in the following reaction mixtures.
(i) 300 atoms of A + 200 molecules of B
(ii) 2 mol A + 3 mol B
(iii) 100 atoms of A + 100 molecules of B
(iv) 5 mol A + 2.5 mol B
(v) 2.5 mol A + 5 mol B
21. 20g of oxygen gas reacts with 5 g of hydrogen gas to produce water. Identify the limiting
reagent. Also, calculate the amount of water produced.
22. Identify the limiting reagent in the following cases
a. 10g of hydrogen gas react with 100g of Chlorine gas to produce HCl.
b. 2 moles of Carbon react with 32 g of oxygen gas to produce CO2.
c. 2 moles of hydrogen react with 2 moles of nitrogen to give ammonia.
d. 22.4L of hydrogen at STP react with 32g of oxygen to produce water.
23. Calculate the amount of carbon dioxide that could be produced when
(i) 1 mole of carbon is burnt in air.
(ii) 1 mole of carbon is burnt in 16 g of dioxygen.
(iii) 2 moles of carbon are burnt in 16 g of dioxygen
24. 10g of nitrogen react with 3g of hydrogen to produce ammonia.
(i) Identify the limiting reagent
(ii) Calculate the amount of ammonia produced
(iii) Calculate the amount of reactant remaining unreacted.
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Solutions
A solution is a homogenous mixture of two or more components completely dissolved into each other.

Symbols and notation

Concentration of a Solution
It is defined as the amount of solute dissolved in a fixed amount of solvent of solution.

Methods of calculating concentration

1. Percentage method
2. Part per million
3. Mole fraction
4. Molarity
5. Molality
6. Strength of solution
7. Normality

Percentage method
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Implying mass percent

Parts per million (ppm)

Implying ppm by mass

Mole fraction – Number of moles of a given component with respect to total number of moles.
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Molarity (M) – Number of moles of solute dissolved in one litre of solution.

Implying molarity

molality (m) – Number of moles of solute in one kilogram of solvent.

Implying molality

Strength of a solution
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Normality (N) – Number of gram equivalents of solute in one litre of solution.

Change in Concentration on dilution of a solution

The change in concentration on dilution of a solution can be calculated using the following formula –

Concentration of a mixture of two solutions with same constituents but different

concentrations
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Questions

25. Calculate the mole fraction and molality of a solution prepared by dissolving 7.4g of
Ca(OH)2 in 90g of water.
26. What is the mole fraction of solute and solvent when 20g of NaOH is dissolved in 0.1 L of
water? (Density of water = 1 g/ml).
27. What is the volume of a 0.2M H2SO4 solution if it contains 9.8g of dry Sulfuric acid? 28.
Calculate the mole fraction, molality and molarity of 98% by mass sulfuric acid solution. The
density of solution is 1.84gml-1.
29.If the density of methanol is 0.793 kg L–1, what is its volume needed for making 2.5 L of its
0.25 M solution?
30. Calculate the concentration in molL-1of a 5 % by mass HCl solution having density of 1.18
g/ml.
31. To what volume a 10L, 0.25M HCl be diluted to decrease its concentration to 0.01M? 32.
How Much water mut be added to 100ml, 0.5M H2O2 solution to decrease its Concentration to
0.02M?
33. What is the molality of a 0.2M CaCO3 Solution? The density of the solution was found to be
1.2g/ml.
34. Calculate the mole fraction of 0.5 molal aqueous solution of CH3COOH. Also Calculate its
molarity if the density is 1.018g/ml.
35. A sample of drinking water was found to be severely contaminated with chloroform, CHCl3,
supposed to be carcinogenic in nature. The level of contamination was 15 ppm (by mass). (i)
Express this in per cent by mass.
(ii) Determine the molality of chloroform in the water sample.
36. Calculate the molarity of a solution of ethanol in water, in which the mole fraction of ethanol
is 0.040 (assume the density of water to be one).
37.Calcium carbonate reacts with aqueous HCl to give CaCl2 and CO2 according to the reaction,
CaCO3 (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → CaCl2 (aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
What mass of CaCO3 is required to react completely with 25 mL of 0.75 M HCl?