CONSERVATION OF MASS AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Naming Compounds
1. If there are two elements, a Metal and Non- Metal,
a. The metal is written first
b. name of the compound ends in ide
Single non-metal Type of compound
Oxygen Oxide
Fluorine Fluoride
Sulfur Sulfide
Chlorine Chloride
Bromine Bromide
Iodine Iodide
Hydrogen Hydride

Eg.: Iron and oxygen forms Iron oxide

Sodium and Chlorine forms Sodium Chloride

2. If there are three elements, a metal and two non-metals and one of them is oxygen, the name ends in
ate

Non-metals included Type of compound

Sulphur and Oxygen Sulfate
Carbon and Oxygen Carbonate
Nitrogen and Oxygen Nitrate
Chlorine and Oxygen Chlorate.
Eg.: Iron, sulfur and oxygen forms Iron Sulfate

Magnesium, carbon and oxygen forms Magnesium Carbonate

3. If there are two non metals reacting General

Atoms in molecule Type of compound
rules
1. If the compound contains hydrogen then 1 oxygen atom monoxide
this will form the start of the name e.g. 2 oxygen atoms dioxide
hydrogen chloride. 3 oxygen atoms trioxide
1 sulphur atom sulfide
2. If no hydrogen is present, then the solid 1 chlorine atom chloride
element forms the start of the name e.g. 3 chlorine atoms trichloride
carbon dioxide. 4 chlorine atoms tetrachloride

3. If only gases other than hydrogen are Table 1 – types of covalent compound
present, then nitrogen takes priority, then
oxygen e.g. nitrogen dioxide.
Eg. Carbon and two oxygen forms Carbon dioxide

Nitrogen and three chlorine forms Nitrogen trichloride

Ionic Compounds and Covalent compounds:

Ionic Compounds: A metal and a non- metal, Eg: Iron Chloride as Iron is metal and chlorine is non-metal.

Covalent compounds: Two non-metals, Eg: Carbon dioxide as carbon and oxygen are both non-metals
Law of Conservation of Mass
 The law of Conservation of mass states that “During a chemical reaction, atoms cannot be
created or destroyed.”
 This would mean that the mass of the starting substances (reactants) must be equal to the mass
of the finishing substances (products). That means we have the same number of atoms and the
same type of atoms. They are arranged differently now, because of the reaction, but no atoms
have disappeared, appeared or changed to a different element.

Chemical Equations
Chemical equations/ Word equations are a way of writing down what happens in a chemical reaction.

This is always written as;

Example 1;
Chemical reaction reactants → products
Word equation Nitrogen gas + hydrogen gas → Ammonia
Balanced equation N2 +3H2 → 2NH3
Reactants Nitrogen gas + hydrogen gas
Products Ammonia

Balanced equation shows exactly what is happening in a reaction. The big numbers in front of each
substance is called a coefficient. These numbers show how much of each substance reacted and how
much of each reactant was produced.

From example 2;
• Every single of molecule of nitrogen reacts with three molecules of hydrogen
• Two molecules of ammonia were produced

Balancing the equation

The chemical equation needs to be balanced so that it follows the law of conservation of mass. A
balanced chemical equation occurs when the number of the different atoms of elements in the reactants
side is equal to that of the products side. If unequal, the chemical equation is unbalanced.

Counting atoms;
Investigating balanced and unbalanced equations;
Example 1 Example 2
Reactants Products Reactants Products
O2 + H2 H2O Cu + SO2 Cu2S + O2
2xO Unbalanced 1xO 1 x Cu Unbalance 2 x Cu
d
2xH Balanced 2xH 1xS Balanced 1xS
The above equation is unbalanced. 2xO Unbalance 2xO
d
The above equation is unbalanced

Example 3
Reactants Products
C4H8 +6O2 4CO2 + 4H20
4xC Balanced 4xC
8xH Balanced 8xH
12 x O Balanced 12 x O (8O + 4O)
The above equation is balanced.

Acids and bases

Properties of acids Properties of bases

+ -
 Releases hydrogen ions (H )  Releases hydroxide ions (OH )
 Sour taste  Bitter
 Corrosive  Caustic (can burn your skin or corrode)
 Turns blue litmus paper to red  Turns blue litmus paper to blue
 Reacts with some metals  Soapy, slimy feel
 Conducts electricity  Conducts electricity
 Examples; citrus fruit (lime, orange,  Examples; soap, toothpaste, washing
tomatoes), yogurt, milk and vinegar, car powder, drain, oven cleaner and antacids,
battery acid bicarbonate soda
pH SCALE
Some examples of pH scale are as below;

pH levels Example Explanation

pH = 0 Car battery Very acidic
pH = 3 Soda More acidic that pH 4, 5 and 6 but lesser acidic than pH 0,1 and 2
pH = 6 Milk Weak acid
pH = 7 Pure water Neutral
pH = 8 Blood Weak base
pH = 12 Soap Stronger base than pH 8,9,10 and 11 but weaker than 13 and 14
pH = 14 Drain cleaner Strongest base

Acid reactions
There are three types acid reactions;

a. Acids and base (neutralization process)

b. Acids and carbonate
c. Acids and metal

Types of acid reactions Equation for the reaction Explanation

Acids and bases neutralise
Acids and bases Acid + base → salt + water
each other
It is when the base is
Acids and carbonate Acid + carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide
carbonate
Acids and metal Acid + metal → salt + hydrogen gas Acids can corrode metals

Oxidation
Oxidation is a reaction where electrons are moved from one reactant to another. Often this happens with
the addition of oxygen to a metal. For example, iron is oxidised when it rusts, because oxygen is added to
the iron.

Two forms of oxidation; Combustion and corrosion

Combustion
 Combustion happens when a substance reacts with oxygen.
 Examples; heat and light from burning woods and bushfire
 Typical reaction; Hydrocarbon + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Examples of hydrocarbon are coal, petrol, natural gas and diesel
 If there is no oxygen, combustion cannot happen. For example, fire stops if covered with a fire
blanket.

Corrosion
 Corrosion happens when metals are exposed to water, oxygen and other chemicals. Many metals
are slowly replaced by metal oxides over time, creating rusts, tarnishes and verdigris.
 Examples;
i. Iron + oxygen → Iron oxide (rust)
ii. Copper + oxygen → Copper oxide
iii. Aluminium + oxygen → Aluminium oxide
 Anodising – process that deliberately builds up a layer of aluminium oxide to protect the
aluminium underneath rather than causing further corrosion.

Endothermic and exothermic reaction

Endothermic reactions Exothermic reactions

 Endothermic reactions is a reaction that  Exothermic reactions is a reaction that release

absorbs heat, taking it from the energy.
surroundings and making them colder.  Reactants have more energy than products
 Products have more energy than reactants  Energy is always released as heat and/or light
 Examples;  Examples;
i. Cold pack I. Fireworks
ii. Sherbet II. Candle flame
iii. Melting ice (required heat III. Making ice (water released the
to melt, your hand is cold heat to freeze)
if you touch the ice) IV. Combustion