Chapter # 2 : Chemical Combinations

Q#1 : Explain the laws of chemical combination.

Ans : Laws of Chemical Combination.
Scientists had found that the chemical changes are governed by some empirical laws known as laws of
chemical combination. These laws are :
a. Law of Conservation of Mass.
b. Law of Constant Composition OR Law of Definite Proportions.
c. Law of Multiple Proportions.
d. Law of Reciprocal Proportions.
(a) Law of Conservation of Mass :
The law of conservation of mass was put forward by Lavoisier in 1785.
Statement :
Mass can neither be created nor destroyed. OR
In any chemical reaction the initial weight of reacting substances is equal to the final weight of the
products.
Example :

CaCO3
CaO + CO2
100 g
56 g
44 g
Calcium Carbonate decomposes into Calcium oxide and carbon dioxide but initial and final weight
remains same.
(b) Law of Constant Composition OR Law of Definite Proportions :
The law of constant composition was put forward by French Chemist Louis Proust in 1799.
Statement :
Different samples of the same compound always contain the same elements combined together in
the same proportions by mass.
Example :
Every sample of pure water though prepared in the laboratory or obtained from rain , river or water
pump contains one part hydrogen (H) and eight parts oxygen (O) by mass. e.g. H2O
2 : 16
1 : 8 ( parts by mass )
(c) Law of Multiple Proportions :
The law of multiple proportions was put forward by John Dalton in 1803.
Statement :
It states that if two elements 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 or simple
multiple ratio.
Example :
Carbon forms two stable compounds with oxygen as follows.
Compounds
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Fixed Mass of Carbon

12
12

Variable Mass of Oxygen

16
32

Ratio of Oxygen
1
2

Theory is a scientifically accepted idea or principle to explain a phenomenon. When the hypothesis is
supported by a large amount of different types of observation & experiments then it becomes a theory.

(d) Law of Reciprocal Proportions :

The law of reciprocal proportions was put forward by Ritcher in ( 1792 94 ).
Statement :
It states that when two different elements separately combine with the fixed mass of third element ,the
proportions in which they combine with one another shall be either in the same ratio or some simple
multiple of it.
Example :
Carbon and oxygen separately combine with the fixed mass of Hydrogen in the simple ratio as follows.
If Hydrogen is replaced & Carbon and Oxygen are allowed to react they
combine in same simple ratio as. CO2 ( 3 : 8 ). Hence law is proved.
CH4
3 : 1

H
CH4
C

H 2O
1 : 8

H2 O
O
CO2

Q#2 : Explain Landolts experiment which led to the conformation of law of conservation of mass.
Ans : Landolts Experiment :
H. Landolt was German Chemist. He proved the law of conservation of mass by
using an H-shaped glass tube. He filled silver nitrate in limb A and hydrochloric
acid in limb B. The tube was sealed and weighed before the chemical reaction.
The reactants were mixed by inverting and shaking the tube. A white
precipitate of silver chloride was formed along with Sodium nitrate . The tube
was weighed again. He found that there was no change in weight during the
following chemical reaction.
AgNO3 + NaCl

AgCl2 (white precipitate) + NaNO3

Q#3 : Define the following : (a) Atomic Mass (b) Formula Mass (c) Molecular Mass (d) Molar Mass.
Ans : (a) Atomic Mass :
The atomic mass of an element is now taken as , the average mass of natural mixture of isotopes which
is compared to the mass of one atom of C- 12 a.m.u.
Example :
The atomic mass of oxygen (O) = 16 a.m.u. and that of sulphur (S) = 32 a.m.u.
(b) Formula Mass :
Formula mass of substances is the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms in a formula unit of the
substance.
Example :
The formula mass of NaCl is
Na = 23 x 1 = 23
Cl = 35.5 x 1 = 35.5
58.5 a.m.u.
(c) Molecular Mass :
The molecular mass of a substance is the sum of the atomic masses of all atoms present in the
molecular formula of a substance or molecule.

Example :
The molecular mass of CO2 is
C = 12 x 1 = 12
O2 = 16 x 2 = 32
44 a.m.u.
(d) Molar Mass :
Molar mass is defined as the relative atomic mass , molecular mass or formula mass of a substance
expressed in grams.
Example :
Molar mass of O
= 16 g
Molar mass of O2 = 32 g
Molar mass of NaCl = 58.5 g
Q#4 : Define Mole and Avogadro number.
Ans : Mole :
A mole can be defined as the atomic mass , formula mass or molecular mass of a substance expressed
in grams.
(S.I.) Definition :
The (S.I) definition of mole is the amount of substance containing as many elementary particles (units)
as there are atoms in exactly 12g of C-12 a.m.u.
Example :
1 mole of C = 12 g
1 mole of Mg = 24 g
1 mole of H2O = 18 g
Avogadros Number ( NA ):
The number of particles (atoms , ions , molecules or formula units ) present in one mole of a substance
is called Avogadros Number. It is always constant , i.e. 6.02 x 1023 and is denoted by NA.
Example :
1 mole of Mg = 24 g = 6.02 x 1023 atoms of magnesium.
1 mole of H2O = 18 g = 6.02 x 1023 molecules of water.
Uses of Avogadros Number :
1. To calculate the number of atoms or molecules in a given sample of substance.
2. To calculate the mass of single atom or molecule of any substance.
Q#5 : Define the difference between empirical formula and molecular formula.
Empirical Formula
Molecular Formula
1. A formula that gives only the relative number
1. A formula that gives the actual number of
of atoms of each element present in a molecule
atoms of each element present in a molecule
is called Empirical Formula.
is called Molecular Formula.
2. Empirical Formula cannot show the actual
2. Molecular Formula shows the actual structure
structure of compound.
of compound.
3. It represents simplest composition of a
3. It represents true composition of a molecule.
molecule.
4. It represents Ionic Compounds as well as
4. It represents Covalent Compounds only.
Covalent Compounds.
5. Empirical formula is obtained by E.F = M.F
5. Molecular formula is obtained by M.F = (E.F)n.
n
6. The empirical formula of glucose is CH2O.
6. The molecular formula of glucose is C6H12O6

Q#6 : Define Chemical Reaction and its types along with examples.
Ans : Chemical Reaction :
Any change which alters the composition of a substance is called a chemical change or chemical
reaction.
Example :
Iron reacts with oxygen of moist air to form iron oxide.
4Fe + 3O2
2Fe2O3
Types Of Chemical Reactions :
Chemical reactions can be divided into five different types which are as follows.
(a) Decomposition Reaction.
(b) Addition Or Combination Reaction
(c) Single Replacement OR Displacement Reaction.
(d) Double Displacement Reaction.
(e) Combustion Reaction.
(a) Decomposition Reaction :
A reaction in which a chemical substance breaks down to form two or more simpler substances is called
a decomposition reaction. These reactions require some energy for decomposition.
Example :
Calcium carbonate decomposes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide in presence of heat.
CaCO3
CaO + CO2
(b) Addition OR Combination Reaction :
A reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a single substance is called an addition or
combination reaction.
Example :
Calcium oxide reacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate.
CaO + CO2
CaCO3
(c) Single Replacement (Displacement) Reaction :
A reaction in which one atom or group of atoms of a compound is replaced by another atom or group
of atoms is defined as single displacement reaction.
Example :
Zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrogen chloride (HCl) to give Zinc chloride.
Zn + 2HCl
ZnCl2 + H2
(d) Double Displacement Reaction :
A reaction in which two compounds exchange their radicals so that two new compounds are formed is
called the double displacement reaction.
Example :
NaCl + AgNO3
NaNO3 + AgCl
(e) Combustion Reaction :
A reaction in which substances react with either free oxygen or oxygen of the air with the rapid release
of heat and flame is called combustion reaction.
Example :
When Carbon burns in air , it produces carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) gas and heat.
C + O2
CO2 + H

Q#7 : Define the following :

(a) a.m.u (b) Symbol (c) Formula (d) Chemical Equation (e) Reactants (f) Products (g) Co-efficient.
Ans : (a) Atomic Mass Unit (a.m.u) :
One atomic mass unit ( 1 a.m.u.) is defined as the mass exactly equal to one twelfth the mass of
C 12 atom.
(b) Symbol :
A symbol is a short hand way to express an element instead of writing his full name.
Example :
Element
Symbol
Carbon
C
Hydrogen
H
Silver
Ag
(c) Formula :
A formula is a combination of symbols for atoms or ions that are held together chemically in a
compound. By formula we mean not only the elements present but also ratios in which the atoms are
combined.

Example :
Formula for Sodium chloride is ( NaCl ) , Calcium carbonate is ( CaCO3 ) and Glucose is ( C6H12O6).
(d) Chemical Equation :
Chemical equation is a representation of a chemical change in terms of symbols and formulae of the
reactants and products.
Example :

CaCO3

Cao + CO2

(e) Reactants :
The starting substances of a reaction are called reactants and are always written on the left hand side
of an equation.
Example :
NaOH + HCl
NaCl + H2O
(Reactants)
(f) Products :
The substances which are produced after reaction are called products and are always written on the
right - hand side of an equation.
Example :
NaOH + HCl

NaCl + H2O
(Products)

(g) Co-efficient :
The number in front of the formula / symbol is called coefficient. They show the number of molecules
/ formula units / atoms that react with each other.

Chapter No 2 Test Questions :

Q#1 : Explain the laws of chemical combination.
Q#2 : Explain Landolts experiment which led to the conformation of law of conservation of mass.
Q#3 : Define the following : (a) Atomic Mass (b) Formula Mass (c) Molecular Mass (d) Molar Mass.
Q#4 : Define Mole and Avogadro number.
Q#5 : Define the difference between empirical formula and molecular formula.
Q#6 : Define Chemical Reaction and its types along with examples.
Q#7 : Define the following :
(a) a.m.u (b) Symbol (c) Formula (d) Chemical Equation (e) Reactants (f) Products (g) Co-efficient.
Activity:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Make a chart showing different formulas used in this chapter.

Solve objectives and MCQs in book.
Solve book exercise questions.
Practice numerical.