SOME BASIC CONCEPTS OF CHEMISTRY
FUNDAMENTAL UNITS
The SI system has seven basic units of physical quantities as follows:
Physical Quantity |
Abbreviation |
Name of unit |
Symbol |
time |
t |
second |
s |
mass |
m |
kilogram |
kg |
length |
l |
metre |
m |
temperature |
T |
kelvin |
K |
electric current |
I |
ampere |
A |
light intensity |
Iv |
candela |
Cd |
amount of substance |
n |
mole |
Mol |
The units obtained by combination of basic units are known as derived units e.g. velocity is expressed as distance/time. Hence unit is m/s or ms–1. Some common derived units are:
Physical Quantity |
Definition |
SI Unit |
volume |
length cube |
m3 |
area |
length square |
m2 |
speed |
distance travelled |
ms–1 |
acceleration |
speed changed |
ms–2 per unit time |
density |
mass per unit volume |
kg m–3 |
pressure |
force per unit area |
kgm–1s–2 or Nm–2 (pressure = Pa) |
force |
mass times acceleration of object |
kgms–2 (Newton N) |
energy |
force times distance travelled |
kgm2s–2(Joule J) |
frequency |
cycles per second |
s–1 (hertz = Hz) |
power |
energy per second |
kgm2s–3 or Js–1 (Watt = W) |
electric charge |
ampere times second |
As (coloumb = C) |
electric potential |
energy per unit |
JA–1s–1 or kgm2s–3 |
difference |
charge |
A–1 (volt = V) |
SOME NON-SI UNITS IN
COMMON USE
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
SI definition |
SI Name |
Length |
angstrom |
Ã… |
10–10 m |
0.1 nanometers (nm) |
Volume |
litre |
L |
10–3 m3 |
1 decimeter (dm3) |
Energy |
calorie |
cal |
kg m2s–2 |
4.184 Joule (J) |
STANDARD PREFIXES FOR EXPRESSING THE DECIMAL FRACTIONS OR MULTIPLES OF
FUNDAMENTAL UNITS
Fraction |
Prefix |
Symbol |
Multiple |
Prefix |
Symbol |
10–1 |
deci |
d |
101 |
Deka |
da |
10–2 |
centi |
c |
102 |
Hecta |
h |
10–3 |
milli |
m |
103 |
kilo |
k |
10–6 |
micro |
m |
106 |
Mega |
M |
10–9 |
nano |
n |
109 |
Giga |
G |
10–12 |
pico |
p |
1012 |
Tera |
T |
10–15 |
femto |
f |
1015 |
Peta |
P |
10–18 |
atto |
a |
1018 |
Exa |
E |
Precision: It is the closest value of various measurements for the same
quantity.
Accuracy: It is the agreement of a particular value to the true value.
Example: Let the true weight of a substance be 3.00g. The measurement
reported by three students is as follows
Case of A student: It is precision but no accuracy since measurements one close but not accurate.
Case of B student: Measurements are close (precision) and accurate
(Accuracy)
Case of C student: Measurement are not close (no precision) and not
accurate (no accuracy)
STOICHIOMETRY
Stoichiometry: It is calculation of masses or volumes of reactants and
products involved in a chemically balanced reaction. Consider the formation of
ammonia.
N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) -> 2NH3 (g)
All are gases indicated by letter (g) and coefficients 3 for H2
and 2 for NH3 are called stoichiometric coefficients. The formation
of ammonia can be interpreted in many ways:
1. One mole of N2(g)
reacts with three moles of H2(g) to give two moles of NH3(g).
2. 28g of N2(g)
reacts with 6g at H2(g) to give 34g of NH3(g).
3. 22.4L of N2(g)
reacts with 67.2L of H2(g) to give 44.8L of NH3(g)
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
The weight 7.52 gm of a substance indicates that it is reliable to the
nearest hundredth of a gram and may be expressed as 7.52 ± 0.01. It means
slightest variation may occur at the second place of decimal or we can say that
uncertainty is ± 0.01 g.
Now consider the weight 6.4234 g. It may correctly be expressed as
6.4234 ± 0.001 g.
In the first
case the weight contains three significant figures and in the second case
weight contains five significant figures.
1. Significance of zero: If zero is used to
locate the decimal point it is not considered as significant figure. Thus in
0.0072 there are only two significant figures whereas in 70.40, there are four
significant figures since zero is after 4. Again in 0.0070 there are two
significant figures, since zero after 7 is significant for it has a meaning
when written in exponentials. If we compare 7.0 × 10–3 and 7 × 10–3, the first
term has uncertainty of one in seventy and second has uncertainty of one in
seven. The exponential term does not add to number of significant figures.
1)
Addition and subtraction of quantities: In
this case the uncertainty in the result is equal to the sum of the
uncertainties of the individual quantities.
2)
Multiplication and division: In
this case the uncertainty in the result is equal to the sum of the percentage
of individual uncertainties.
3)
Rounding off: The
following rules are observed.
a)
If the digit after the last digit to be retained is less than 5,
the last digit is retained as such. E.g. 1.752 = 1.75 (2 is less than 5).
b)
If the digit after the last digit to be retained is more than 5,
the digit to be retained is increased by 1. E.g. 1.756 = 1.76 (6 is more than
5).
c)
If the digit after the last digit to be retained is equal to 5,
the last digit is retained as such if it is even and increased by 1 if odd.
4)
Calculations involving addition
and subtraction: In case of addition and subtraction the final result should
be reported to the same number of decimal places as the number with the minimum
number of decimal places.
5)
Calculations involving
multiplication and division: In this case the final
result should be reported having same number of significant digits as that of
the number having least significant digits.
MATTER
Anything which
occupies space, possesses mass and can be felt is called matter.
CLASSIFICATION OF MATTER
ELEMENT
Pure substance
consisting of one type of particles in the form of atoms e.g. Cu, Na, Fe or
molecules. e.g. H2, O2 etc.
COMPOUND
Pure substance
consisting of molecules formed by the combination of atoms of different
elements e.g. CO2, H2O etc.
MIXTURES
Mixtures are
substances made of two or more elements or compounds in any proportion. They
may be homogeneous or heterogeneous.
SEPARATION OF MIXTURES
Mixtures can be
separated into constituents by following methods:
1.
Filtration can separate those mixtures whose one component is
soluble in a particular solvent and other is not.
2.
Distillation can be used to separate constituents of mixtures
having different boiling points.
3.
Extraction dissolves one out of several components of mixture.
4.
Crystallisation is a process of separating solids having different
solubilities in a particular solvent.
5.
Sublimation separates volatile solids which sublime on heating
from non-volatile solids.
6.
Chromatography is the technique of separating constituents of a
mixture which utilises the property of difference of adsorption on a particular
adsorbent.
7.
Gravity separation separates constituents having different
densities.
8.
Magnetic separation can separate magnetic components from non
magnetic ones.
PHYSICAL
AND CHEMICAL CHANGES
A change which
does not affect chemical composition and molecular structure is a physical
change and the one that involves alteration of chemical composition and
molecular structure is a chemical change.
1.
Chemical Combination is reaction between two or more elements or
compounds to form a single substance.
H2 + I2 -> 2HI
2.
Displacement means replacement of one element of compound by
another.
3.
Decomposition involves splitting of a compound to form two or more
substances.
4.
Combustion is a complete and fast oxidation of a substance.
5.
Neutralisation is the reaction between acid and base to form a
salt.
6.
Polymerisation is the combination of molecules of same or
different substances to form a single molecule called polymer
7.
Photochemical changes occur in presence of visible or ultraviolet
light.
8.
Double decomposition or metathesis is the exchange of oppositely
charged ion on mixing two salt solutions.
9.
Hydrolysis involves reaction of salts with water to form acidic or
basic solutions.
LAWS OF CHEMICAL
COMBINATIONS
1.
Law of conservation of mass: This
law was given by French chemist A. Lavoisier (1774) which states that
"during any physical or chemical change, the total mass of products is
equal to the total mass of reactants". It is also called law of
indistinctibility. It does not hold good for nuclear reaction.
2.
Law of definite proportions: This
law was given by Proust (1799) and states that "a chemical compound always
contains some elements combined together in same proportion by mass". For
example different samples of pure CO2 always have carbon and oxygen in 3:8 ratios
by mass.
3.
Law of multiple proportions : This
law was given by John Dalton (1803) and states that "when two elements
combine to form two or more compounds, the different mass of one of the
elements and the fixed mass of the one with which it combines always form a
whole number ratio". This law explains the concept of formation of more
than one compound by two elements.
4.
Law of reciprocal proportions: This
was given by Richter (1792) and states that "when two elements combine
separately with a fixed mass of third, the ratio of masses in which they do so
is same or whole number multiple of the ratio in which they combine with each
other." This law is also called law of equivalent proportions and is
helpful in determining equivalent weights.
5.
Gay Lussac's law of combining
volumes: This law states that when gases react with each other, their
volumes bear a simple whole no. ratio to one another and to volume of products
(if gases) and similar conditions of pressure and temperature.
6.
Dalton's atomic theory :
·
Proposed by John Dalton in 1808. Main points are:
·
Matter is made up, by indivisible particles called atoms
·
Atoms of same elements are identical in physical and chemical
properties.
·
Atoms of different substances are different in every respect
·
Atoms always combine in whole numbers to form compounds
·
Atoms of resultant compounds possess similar properties
Drawbacks of Dalton's theory :
·
Does not explain structure of atom.
·
Fails to explain binding forces between atoms in compounds.
·
Does not explain Gay Lussac's law.
·
Does not differentiate between atom and molecule.
7.
Avogadro's law :
It states that "equal volumes of all gases, under similar
conditions of temperature and pressure contain equal number of molecules".
Applications are:
·
Deducing atomicity of elementary gases
·
Deriving relationship between molecular mass and vapour density
·
Deriving formula of substances
·
Determining molecular wt. of a gas
·
Deducing the gram molecular volume.
ATOM
Atom is the
smallest particle of element which might not be able to exist independently.
MOLECULE
Molecule is the
smallest particle of the substance which can exist independently. It can be
subdivided as
1.
Homoatomic molecules are molecules of same element and can be
further divided as monatomic, diatomic and polyatomic molecules depending upon
number of atoms. E.g: He, O2, P4 etc.
2.
Heteroatomic molecules are molecules of compound. They can be
diatomic and polyatomic. eg: H2O, PCl5, H2SO4,
NO etc.
ATOMIC MASS UNIT (A.M.U.)
It is the unit of representing atomic masses. 1 a.m.u. = 1/12th the mass of C-12.
It is a unit which represents 6.023 × 1023 particles. The number 6.023 × 1023 is called Avogadro's number and is represented by N0 or NA. Avogadro's number of gas molecules occupy a volume of 22400 cm3 at N.T.P. Number of molecules in 1 cm3 of gas at NTP is N0. With value 2.688 × 1019.
ATOMIC MASS
"It is the
number of times the atom of the element is heavier than H atom" was the
first proposed definition. Later on oxygen was preferred as standard. In 1961
C-12 was chosen as standard and thus "the number of times the atom of an
element is heavier than 12th part of C-12 is called atomic mass of the element.
AVERAGE ATOMIC MASS
It is the mass
of each isotope determined separately and then combined in ratio of their
occurrence. Suppose a and b are two isotopes of an element with their occurrence
ratio p:q then
Average atomic mass =

DETERMINATION OF ATOMIC MASS
1.
Dulong and petit's rule: It
is based on experimental facts. "At ordinary temperature, product of
atomic mass and specific heat for solid elements is approximately 6.4 and this
product is known as atomic heat of the element"
Atomic mass × specific heat = 6.4
The law is valid
for solid elements except Be B, Si and C.
Correct At. Mass
= Eq. mass × valency
where Cp =
specific heat at constant pressure and Cv = specific heat at
constant volume. the ratio g is a constant = 1.66 for monoatomic, 1.40 for
diatomic, 1.33 for triatomic gas and atomic mass of gaseous element
3.
Chloride formation method: This
method converts the element (whose mass is to be determined) into volatile
chloride whose vapour density is found by Victor Mayer method.
Molecular mass = 2 × V.D.
4.
Vapour density method is
suitable for elements having volatile chlorides.
Atomic mass = Eq. mass of metal × valency.
5.
Mitscherlich's law of isomorphism: It
states that isomorphous substances have similar chemical constitution.
Isomorphous substances form crystals of same shape and valencies of elements
forming isomorphous salts are also same. eg: ZnSO4. 7H2O,
MgSO4.7H2O and FeSO4.7H2O are
isomorphous.
GRAM ATOMIC MASS (GAM)
Is the mass of
an atom expressed in Gms.
No. of Gm-atoms of element =
MOLECULAR MASS :
It is the
average relative mass of the molecule as compared with mass of C-12 atom.
Molecular mass =
CALCULATION OF MOLECULAR MASS:
1.
Graham's law of diffusion: It states that rate of diffusion of two
gases is inversely proportional to the square root of ratio of their molecular
weights.

2.
Victor meyer method : This method can determine the molecular mass
as
Molecular mass = (W/V) × 22400
Where, W is the
mass of liquid in gm. occupying a volume V ml at STP.
3.
Vapour density method: Vapour density is the ratio of volume of a
gas to the mass of same volume of hydrogen under identical conditions.
or
Thus molecular
mass = 2 × V.D.
4.
Colligative properties method : This
method can be helpful in determining molecular mass as
Elevation in boiling point
Where Tb is
elevation in b.p., Kb is molal elevation constant w is wt. of solute W is
wt. of solvent
Depression in freezing point
GRAM MOLECULAR MASS OR MOLAR
MASS
That amount of
substance whose mass in grams is equal to its molecular mass or the
equivalently molecular mass of a substance expressed in grams is called gram
molecular mass. Gram molecular mass is also called one gram molecule. thus
No. of gm molecules =
EQUIVALENT MASS:
It is the number
of parts by weight of the substance that combines or displaces, directly or
indirectly, 1.008 parts by mass of hydrogen or 8 parts by mass of oxygen or
35.5 parts by mass of chlorine. It can be calculated as,
· Equivalent mass for elements =
· Equivalent mass for acids =
· Equivalent mass for bases =
· Equivalent mass for salts =
· Equivalent mass for oxidising agents =
· Equivalent mass for reducing agents =
· Equivalent weight of radicals =
FORMULA MASS
It is obtained
by adding atomic masses of various atoms present in the formula and this term
replaces molecular mass in ionic compounds.
ACIDITY
It is the number
of OH– ions that can be displaced from one molecule of a substance.
BASICITY
It is the number
of H+ ions that can be displaced from one molecule of a substance.
GRAM EQUIVALENT MASS (GEM)
It is the mass
of a substance expressed in grams or equivalently the quantity of substance
whose mass in grams is equal to its equivalent mass is called one gram
equivalent or gram equivalent mass.
No. of gm equivalents =
.
METHODS OF DETERMINING EQUIVALENT MASSES:
1.
Hydrogen displacement method: It
is for metals which can displace H2 from acids.
Equivalent mass of metal
=
2. Metal displacement method: It utilises the fact that one GEM of a more electropositive metal displaces one GEM of a less electropositive metal from its salt
.
3.
Conversion method : When
one compound of a metal is converted to another compound of similar metal then
where E is the
eqv. mass of the metal.
4.
Electrolytic method :
It states that the quantity of substance that reacts at electrode when
Faraday of electricity is passed is equal to its GEM.
GEM = Electrochemical equivalent × 96500
and ratio of
weights deposited by equal amount of electricity is in ratio of their
equivalent masses.
5.
Oxide method :
Equivalent mass of metal =

6.
Double decomposition :

7.
Neutralisation method for acids
and bases :
Equivalent mass of acid (base)
8.
Silver salt is
method commonly used for organic acids.
Eqv. mass of acid =
Mol. mass of
acid = Eqv. mass of acid × Basicity
9.
Platinichloride method for bases
:
Eqv. mass of base
=
Mol. mass of
base = Eqv. mass of base × Acidity
10.
Chloride method :
Eqv. mass of metal =
11.
Volatile chloride method :
Valency of metal
=
CHEMICAL
EQUATION:
It is the
equation representing chemical change in terms of formula of reactants and
products.
1.
An equation which has not been equalised in terms of number of
atoms of reactants and products is called a skeleton equation.
2.
An equation having equal number of atoms of various kinds on both
sides is a balanced equation.
EMPIRICAL
FORMULA:
It is the
simplest formula of a compound giving simplest whole number ratio of atoms
present in one molecule. e.g. CH is empirical formula of benzene.
MOLECULAR
FORMULA:
It is the actual
formula of a compound showing the total number of atoms of constituent elements
e.g. C6H6 is molecular formula of benzene.
Molecular
formula = n × empirical formula, where n is simple whole number.
SOLUTION:
It is a
homogenous mixture of two or more substances. The component of solution having
larger proportion is solvent and others are solute.
MOLE
FRACTION:
It is the ratio
of moles of a constituent to the total number of moles in a solution.
Let A be solute
& B is solvent then mole fraction of solute (xA)
=
, where n is the number of moles.
Mole fraction of solution
MASS
PERCENTAGE:
It is the number
of parts by mass of solute per hundred parts by mass of solution. If WA is mass
of solute and WB the mass of solvent, then
Mass percentage of A =
VOLUME
PERCENTAGE:
It is the number
of parts by volume of solute per hundred parts by volume of solution. If VA is
volume of solute and VB is the volume of solvent then
Volume percentage of A =
PARTS
PER MILLION (PPM):
It is the mass
of solute present in one million parts by mass of solution.
NORMALITY:
It is the number of gram equivalents of a solute present in one litre of solution.
Normality
depends on temperature. Also if strength is given in normalities, N1
of A & N2 of B
Then N1V1
= N2V2.
MOLARITY:
It is the number
of moles of solute present in one litre of solution.
and millimoles =
M × V(in ml).
Molarity
and mass percentage have the relation M
=
, where d = density
If a solution of
molarity M1 and volume V1 adds up with a solvent to a
final volume V2, then molarity M2 is given by
If two different
solutions (M1, V1) and (M2, V2) are
mixed then molarities of resulting solution is
M =
Also, Molarity ×
GMM of solute = Normality × GEM of solute
MOLALITY:
It is the number
of moles of solute in 1 kg of solvent.
Molality (m) =
Molality is
independent of temperature.
FORMALITY
(F):
It is the number
of gram formula mass of ionic solute dissolved in 1 litre of solution.
Formality =
LIMITING
REAGENT:
It is the
reactant which is completely consumed during the reaction.