Chemistry Notes – Set 1: Detailed Guide for UPSC, PCS, SSC Competitive Exams

Class 9: Matter in Our Surroundings

Detailed Concepts:

  • Definition of Matter: Anything that occupies space and has mass, existing in three primary states: solid, liquid, and gas. Matter consists of particles (atoms or molecules) in constant motion, with properties varying by state.
  • States of Matter:
    • Solid: Fixed shape and volume due to tightly packed particles with minimal kinetic energy. Particles vibrate in fixed positions (e.g., ice, iron).
    • Liquid: Definite volume but no fixed shape, particles are less tightly packed, allowing flow (e.g., water, oil). Liquids take the shape of their container.
    • Gas: No fixed shape or volume, particles are widely spaced with high kinetic energy, moving freely (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen). Gases expand to fill their container.
  • Particle Nature: All matter is composed of tiny particles with:
    • Spaces between them (largest in gases, smallest in solids).
    • Constant motion (increases with temperature).
    • Attractive forces (strongest in solids, weakest in gases).
  • Physical Properties:
    • Diffusion: Particles mix due to motion (e.g., perfume spreading in air, faster in gases).
    • Compressibility: Gases are highly compressible due to large interparticle spaces; solids and liquids are nearly incompressible.
    • Rigidity: Solids are rigid; liquids and gases are fluids.
  • Change of State:
    • Melting: Solid to liquid by absorbing heat, occurs at melting point (e.g., ice at 0°C). Heat energy overcomes interparticle forces.
    • Boiling: Liquid to gas at boiling point (e.g., water at 100°C at 1 atm). Requires heat to break intermolecular forces.
    • Evaporation: Surface molecules of a liquid escape to gas phase below boiling point, causing cooling (e.g., sweat evaporating cools the body).
    • Sublimation: Direct solid-to-gas transition (e.g., camphor, dry ice).
    • Condensation: Gas to liquid by losing heat (e.g., water droplets on a cold glass).
    • Freezing: Liquid to solid by losing heat (e.g., water to ice at 0°C).
  • Latent Heat:
    • Latent Heat of Fusion: Heat absorbed to change solid to liquid without temperature rise (e.g., 334 kJ/kg for ice).
    • Latent Heat of Vaporization: Heat absorbed to change liquid to gas (e.g., 2260 kJ/kg for water).
  • Effect of Temperature and Pressure:
    • Increasing temperature increases particle kinetic energy, promoting state changes (e.g., solid → liquid).
    • Increasing pressure reduces volume, can liquefy gases (e.g., LPG, CNG).
  • Plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC): Advanced states (not in Class 9 syllabus but relevant for exams):
    • Plasma: Ionized gas with charged particles (e.g., in stars, neon signs).
    • BEC: Matter at near-absolute zero, particles in lowest energy state.

Formulas:

  • No direct mathematical formulas in this chapter, but key relationships:
    • Evaporation Rate: ∝ Surface area, temperature, wind speed; ∝ 1/Humidity.
    • Pressure-Volume (Gases): P ∝ 1/V (qualitative, Boyle’s law introduced later).
    • Latent Heat: Q = mL, where Q = heat, m = mass, L = latent heat (fusion or vaporization).

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on state changes in environmental contexts (e.g., water cycle, evaporation in climate).
    • SSC: Objective questions on properties of states or applications like LPG compression.
    • Descriptive: Explain cooling by evaporation or industrial gas liquefaction.
  • Real-World:
    • Refrigeration: Evaporation of coolant absorbs heat, cooling the surroundings.
    • LPG/CNG: Gases compressed to liquids for storage.
    • Meteorology: Condensation in cloud formation, sublimation in dry ice uses.
  • Exam Tips:
    • Focus on qualitative understanding of state changes and latent heat.
    • Link to environmental science (e.g., water cycle, greenhouse gases).

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • States of Matter: Three columns showing particle arrangement:
    • Solid: Tightly packed particles in a lattice, vibrating.
    • Liquid: Loosely packed particles, sliding past each other.
    • Gas: Widely spaced particles, moving randomly.
    • Arrows between states labeled with processes (melting, boiling, condensation, freezing).

Class 10: Chemical Reactions and Equations

Detailed Concepts:

  • Chemical Reaction: Process where reactants transform into products with new chemical properties, involving bond breaking and forming.
  • Characteristics of Reactions:
    • Change in color (e.g., CuSO₄·5H₂O (blue) → CuSO₄ (white) on heating).
    • Change in state (e.g., solid wax → liquid on burning).
    • Gas evolution (e.g., Zn + H₂SO₄ → H₂ gas).
    • Temperature change (exothermic: heat released; endothermic: heat absorbed).
  • Types of Chemical Reactions:
    • Combination: Two or more reactants form one product (e.g., 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O).
    • Decomposition: Single compound breaks into two or more substances (e.g., 2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂, electrolysis).
    • Displacement: More reactive element displaces less reactive one (e.g., Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu; Fe more reactive than Cu).
    • Double Displacement: Ion exchange between two compounds, often forming a precipitate (e.g., AgNO₃ + NaCl → AgCl↓ + NaNO₃).
    • Redox: Simultaneous oxidation (electron loss) and reduction (electron gain) (e.g., 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO; Mg oxidized, O₂ reduced).
  • Balancing Chemical Equations:
    • Law of conservation of mass: Atoms of each element must be equal on both sides.
    • Example: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O (balanced for C, H, O).
    • Steps: Write unbalanced equation, balance one element at a time, adjust coefficients.
  • Oxidation and Reduction:
    • Oxidation: Loss of electrons, gain of oxygen, or loss of hydrogen.
    • Reduction: Gain of electrons, loss of oxygen, or gain of hydrogen.
    • Example: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O (H₂ oxidized, O₂ reduced).
  • Corrosion: Gradual destruction of metals by environmental reactions (e.g., rusting: 4Fe + 3O₂ + 2xH₂O → 2Fe₂O₃·xH₂O). Prevented by galvanization, painting, or sacrificial anodes.
  • Rancidity: Oxidation of food oils/fats, causing bad taste/smell. Prevented by antioxidants (e.g., BHT), nitrogen packaging, or refrigeration.
  • Catalysts: Substances that speed up reactions without being consumed (e.g., MnO₂ in H₂O₂ decomposition).

Formulas:

  • Balancing: Ensure equal atoms on both sides (e.g., 2Na + Cl₂ → 2NaCl).
  • Oxidation Number Rules:
    • Elements: 0 (e.g., O₂).
    • Monatomic ions: Charge (e.g., Na⁺ = +1).
    • Oxygen: -2 (except peroxides, -1).
    • Hydrogen: +1 (except hydrides, -1).
  • Redox Identification: Use oxidation number changes (e.g., Zn → Zn²⁺, oxidation number 0 to +2, oxidation).

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on reaction types, balancing, or environmental issues like corrosion.
    • SSC: Objective questions on redox, catalysts, or practical applications (e.g., rust prevention).
    • Descriptive: Discuss industrial applications (e.g., ammonia synthesis) or corrosion prevention.
  • Real-World:
    • Industry: Combustion in power plants, redox in metallurgy (e.g., iron extraction).
    • Environment: Rancidity in food preservation, corrosion in infrastructure maintenance.
    • Daily Life: Baking soda (NaHCO₃) decomposition in cooking (2NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂).
  • Exam Tips:
    • Master balancing equations and identifying redox reactions.
    • Link corrosion/rancidity to environmental science for mains.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Redox Reaction: Show Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu. Zinc strip in blue CuSO₄ solution, copper deposits (red-brown), solution turns colorless (ZnSO₄). Label Zn (oxidized), Cu²⁺ (reduced).

Class 11: Structure of Atom

Detailed Concepts:

  • Atomic Models:
    • Dalton’s Model: Atoms as indivisible, solid spheres.
    • Thomson’s Model: Plum pudding model (electrons embedded in positive sphere).
    • Rutherford’s Model: Nucleus (positive, dense) with electrons orbiting, based on alpha particle scattering (most pass through, some deflect).
    • Bohr’s Model: Electrons in fixed orbits with quantized energy (E = -2.18 × 10⁻¹⁸ J (Z²/n²) for hydrogen). Explains line spectra of hydrogen.
  • Subatomic Particles:
    • Proton: Positive, mass ≈ 1 u, in nucleus.
    • Neutron: Neutral, mass ≈ 1 u, in nucleus.
    • Electron: Negative, negligible mass (1/1836 u), in orbitals.
  • Atomic Number (Z): Number of protons, defines element.
  • Mass Number (A): Protons + neutrons. Isotopes have same Z, different A (e.g., C-12, C-14).
  • Quantum Mechanical Model:
    • Electrons in orbitals (probability regions), described by quantum numbers:
      • Principal (n): Energy level (1, 2, 3…).
      • Azimuthal (l): Subshell (0 to n-1; s, p, d, f).
      • Magnetic (m_l): Orbital orientation (-l to +l).
      • Spin (m_s): Electron spin (+1/2 or -1/2).
  • Aufbau Principle: Electrons fill orbitals in order of increasing energy (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s…).
  • Pauli Exclusion Principle: No two electrons have identical quantum numbers.
  • Hund’s Rule: Electrons fill degenerate orbitals singly before pairing.
  • Electronic Configuration: Example: Carbon (Z=6): 1s² 2s² 2p².
  • Electromagnetic Spectrum: Includes radio, infrared, visible, UV, X-rays, gamma rays. Visible light: 400–700 nm.
  • Spectra:
    • Emission: Excited electrons emit light (e.g., hydrogen line spectrum).
    • Absorption: Electrons absorb specific wavelengths, creating dark lines.
  • Applications in Exams: Quantum numbers, electronic configuration, and spectra are key for objective questions.

Formulas:

  • Bohr’s Energy: E_n = -2.18 × 10⁻¹⁸ J (Z²/n²) for hydrogen.
  • Wavelength (Rydberg Formula): 1/λ = R_H (1/n₁² – 1/n₂²), R_H = 1.097 × 10⁷ m⁻¹.
  • Energy of Photon: E = hν = hc/λ, h = 6.626 × 10⁻³⁴ J·s.
  • Number of Orbitals: 2l + 1 for a subshell, n² for a shell.

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on Bohr’s model, quantum numbers, or isotopes in nuclear chemistry.
    • SSC: Objective questions on electronic configuration or spectra applications.
    • Descriptive: Explain Rutherford’s experiment or quantum mechanical model.
  • Real-World:
    • Technology: Spectroscopy in material analysis, lasers (electron transitions).
    • Nuclear Science: Isotopes in dating (e.g., C-14), medical imaging.
  • Exam Tips:
    • Focus on quantum numbers and electronic configurations for MCQs.
    • Understand spectra for environmental or analytical chemistry questions.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Bohr’s Model: Circular orbits around a nucleus, labeled n=1, 2, 3. Arrows show electron transitions (e.g., n=3 to n=2, emitting photon). Energy levels decrease outward.

Class 12: Solutions

Detailed Concepts:

  • Solution: Homogeneous mixture of solute and solvent (e.g., sugar in water).
  • Types of Solutions:
    • Based on State: Gaseous (air), liquid (saltwater), solid (alloys like brass).
    • Based on Concentration: Saturated (max solute), unsaturated (can dissolve more), supersaturated (excess solute, unstable).
  • Concentration Terms:
    • Molarity (M): Moles of solute per liter of solution (mol/L).
    • Molality (m): Moles of solute per kg of solvent (mol/kg).
    • Mass %: (Mass of solute/Mass of solution) × 100.
    • Mole Fraction (X): Moles of component / Total moles.
    • Parts per Million (ppm): (Mass of solute/Mass of solution) × 10⁶.
  • Solubility:
    • Factors: Nature of solute/solvent (“like dissolves like”), temperature (solubility of solids increases, gases decreases), pressure (affects gases, Henry’s law).
    • Henry’s Law: Solubility of a gas ∝ partial pressure (S = k_H × P).
  • Colligative Properties: Depend on number of solute particles:
    • Vapour Pressure Lowering: ΔP = P°_A × X_B (Raoult’s law).
    • Boiling Point Elevation: ΔT_b = K_b × m, where K_b = molal boiling point constant.
    • Freezing Point Depression: ΔT_f = K_f × m, where K_f = molal freezing point constant.
    • Osmotic Pressure: π = CRT, where C = molarity, R = gas constant, T = temperature (K).
  • Ideal vs. Non-Ideal Solutions:
    • Ideal: Obey Raoult’s law, ΔH_mix = 0, ΔV_mix = 0 (e.g., benzene-toluene).
    • Non-Ideal: Deviate from Raoult’s law, positive (e.g., ethanol-water) or negative deviation (e.g., acetone-chloroform).
  • Azeotropes: Mixtures with constant boiling point (e.g., 95% ethanol-water, minimum boiling azeotrope).
  • Applications in Exams: Colligative properties, concentration calculations, and solubility are key for objective and descriptive questions.

Formulas:

  • Molarity: M = Moles of solute / Volume of solution (L).
  • Molality: m = Moles of solute / Mass of solvent (kg).
  • Raoult’s Law: P = P°_A × X_A (for solvent).
  • Boiling Point Elevation: ΔT_b = K_b × m.
  • Freezing Point Depression: ΔT_f = K_f × m.
  • Osmotic Pressure: π = CRT.
  • Henry’s Law: S = k_H × P.
  • Mole Fraction: X_A = n_A / (n_A + n_B).

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on colligative properties in industrial processes (e.g., antifreeze solutions) or environmental contexts (e.g., desalination).
    • SSC: Objective questions on molarity, molality, or Raoult’s law calculations.
    • Descriptive: Explain osmosis in water purification or azeotropes in distillation.
  • Real-World:
    • Industry: Molarity in chemical manufacturing, osmosis in reverse osmosis plants.
    • Medicine: Osmotic pressure in IV fluids, freezing point depression in antifreeze.
  • Exam Tips:
    • Master concentration conversions (molarity to molality) and colligative property calculations.
    • Link solubility to environmental science (e.g., gas solubility in water bodies).

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Raoult’s Law: A graph of vapour pressure vs. mole fraction of solvent (X_A). A straight line (ideal solution) from P°_A (pure solvent) to 0, showing lowering with increasing solute. Non-ideal solutions show positive/negative deviation curves.

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