Chemistry Notes – Set 12: Detailed Guide for UPSC, PCS, SSC Competitive Exams

Class 9: Fundamentals of Matter and Its Properties

Detailed Concepts:

  • Matter: Anything with mass and volume, exists in states (solid, liquid, gas).
    • Physical Properties:
      • State: Solid (fixed shape, e.g., ice), liquid (flows, e.g., water), gas (compressible, e.g., O₂).
      • Melting/Boiling Points: E.g., H₂O: 0°C (melting), 100°C (boiling).
      • Density: Mass/volume (e.g., Fe: 7.87 g/cm³, used in construction).
      • Solubility: Ability to dissolve (e.g., NaCl in water, insoluble in oil).
    • Chemical Properties:
      • Reactivity: E.g., Mg reacts with O₂ (2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO), Na with H₂O (2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂).
      • Combustibility: E.g., CH₄ burns (CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O).
      • Corrosion: E.g., Fe rusts (4Fe + 3O₂ + 2xH₂O → 2Fe₂O₃·xH₂O).
  • Classification:
    • Pure Substances: Elements (e.g., Fe), compounds (e.g., H₂O).
    • Mixtures: Homogeneous (e.g., saltwater), heterogeneous (e.g., sand-water).
  • Changes in Matter:
    • Physical: No new substance (e.g., melting ice).
    • Chemical: New substances formed (e.g., burning wood → CO₂, ash).
  • Measurement of Properties:
    • Temperature: Affects state changes (e.g., boiling point).
    • Mass/Volume: Determines density, critical for material selection.
  • Applications:
    • Industrial: Density for material choice (e.g., Al in aircraft).
    • Environmental: CO₂ from combustion in climate change.
    • Daily Life: Solubility in cooking (e.g., sugar in water).
  • Applications in Exams: Physical/chemical properties and their applications are key for objective and descriptive questions.

Formulas:

  • Density: ρ = Mass/Volume.
  • Combustion: CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O.
  • Rusting: 4Fe + 3O₂ + 2xH₂O → 2Fe₂O₃·xH₂O.
  • Percentage Composition (Compounds): % = (n × Atomic mass / Molecular mass) × 100.

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on properties in industrial contexts (e.g., density in engineering) or environmental impacts (e.g., CO₂ emissions).
    • SSC: Objective questions on physical vs. chemical properties or state changes.
    • Descriptive: Explain rusting or solubility in water purification.
  • Real-World:
    • Industry: Al (low density) in packaging, Fe in construction.
    • Environment: CO₂ in carbon cycle, rust prevention in infrastructure.
    • Daily Life: Sugar dissolution, fuel combustion.
  • Exam Tips:
    • Focus on distinguishing physical/chemical properties.
    • Link to environmental science (e.g., combustion in pollution) for mains.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • States of Matter: Three beakers showing H₂O as ice (ordered lattice), liquid water (flowing molecules), and steam (random gas molecules). Label melting (0°C), boiling (100°C), and intermolecular forces (strong in solids, weak in gases).

Class 10: Chemical Reactions and Equations

Detailed Concepts:

  • Note: Revisiting Set 1’s “Chemical Reactions and Equations” with a focus on reaction mechanisms, balancing, and industrial applications to avoid redundancy, tailored for Class 10 level and exam needs.
  • Chemical Reaction: Process where reactants form products with new properties.
    • Characteristics: New substances, energy change, irreversibility (e.g., 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O).
  • Types of Reactions:
    • Combination: A + B → AB (e.g., CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂, slaking lime).
    • Decomposition: AB → A + B (e.g., 2KClO₃ → 2KCl + 3O₂, heat).
    • Displacement: A + BC → AC + B (e.g., Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu).
    • Double Displacement: AB + CD → AD + CB (e.g., Na₂SO₄ + BaCl₂ → BaSO₄↓ + 2NaCl).
    • Redox: Oxidation + reduction (e.g., 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, H₂ oxidized, O₂ reduced).
  • Balancing Equations:
    • Conserve mass by equalizing atoms (e.g., CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O).
    • Steps: Write unbalanced equation, balance each element, verify.
  • Reaction Mechanisms:
    • Combination: Direct bond formation (e.g., H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl, UV-initiated).
    • Decomposition: Bond breaking (e.g., CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂, thermal energy).
    • Redox: Electron transfer (e.g., Zn + Cu²⁺ → Zn²⁺ + Cu).
  • Industrial Applications:
    • Ammonia Synthesis: N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃ (Haber process, fertilizers).
    • Cement Production: CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂ (kiln heating).
    • Water Treatment: Precipitation reactions (e.g., Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂ → CaCO₃↓).
  • Applications in Exams: Reaction types, balancing, and industrial uses are key for objective and descriptive questions.

Formulas:

  • Combination: 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO.
  • Decomposition: 2NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂.
  • Displacement: Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu.
  • Double Displacement: AgNO₃ + NaCl → AgCl↓ + NaNO₃.
  • Redox Example: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O.

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on reactions in industry (e.g., Haber process) or environmental impacts (e.g., CO₂ from decomposition).
    • SSC: Objective questions on balancing equations or reaction types.
    • Descriptive: Explain ammonia synthesis or precipitation in water treatment.
  • Real-World:
    • Industry: NH₃ in fertilizers, CaO in cement.
    • Environment: CO₂ emissions from combustion, precipitation in purification.
    • Daily Life: Baking (NaHCO₃ decomposition).
  • Exam Tips:
    • Master balancing and identifying reaction types.
    • Link to environmental science (e.g., CO₂ in global warming) for mains.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Redox Reaction: Show Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu. A beaker with Zn strip in blue CuSO₄ solution, forming colorless ZnSO₄ and red-brown Cu deposit. Label oxidation (Zn → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻), reduction (Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu), and electron transfer.

Class 11: Hydrocarbons

Detailed Concepts:

  • Hydrocarbons: Compounds of C and H only.
    • Alkanes: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂, single bonds (e.g., CH₄, C₂H₆).
    • Alkenes: CₙH₂ₙ, double bonds (e.g., C₂H₄).
    • Alkynes: CₙH₂ₙ₋₂, triple bonds (e.g., C₂H₂).
    • Aromatics: Benzene (C₆H₆) and derivatives.
  • Nomenclature (IUPAC):
    • Alkanes: -ane (e.g., C₃H₈: propane).
    • Alkenes: -ene (e.g., C₃H₆: propene).
    • Alkynes: -yne (e.g., C₃H₄: propyne).
    • Aromatics: Benzene-based (e.g., C₆H₅CH₃: toluene).
  • Preparation:
    • Alkanes: Reduction of alkenes/alkynes (e.g., C₂H₄ + H₂ → C₂H₆, Ni catalyst).
    • Alkenes: Dehydration of alcohols (e.g., C₂H₅OH → C₂H₄ + H₂O, Al₂O₃, 350°C).
    • Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation (e.g., CH₂Cl–CH₂Cl → C₂H₂, alc. KOH).
    • Aromatics: From coal tar or petroleum (e.g., C₆H₆ from cracking).
  • Chemical Properties:
    • Alkanes:
      • Substitution: CH₄ + Cl₂ → CH₃Cl + HCl (UV, free radical).
      • Combustion: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂ + (3n+1)/2 O₂ → nCO₂ + (n+1)H₂O.
    • Alkenes/Alkynes:
      • Addition: C₂H₄ + Br₂ → C₂H₄Br₂; C₂H₂ + 2H₂ → C₂H₆.
      • Oxidation: C₂H₄ + KMnO₄ → C₂H₄(OH)₂ (diol formation).
    • Aromatics:
      • Electrophilic Substitution: C₆H₆ + HNO₃ → C₆H₅NO₂ + H₂O (H₂SO₄ catalyst).
      • Stability: Due to resonance in benzene ring.
  • Applications:
    • Fuels: Methane, petrol (alkanes).
    • Industry: Ethene for plastics, benzene for dyes.
    • Environmental: Hydrocarbon emissions (VOCs) in air pollution.
  • Applications in Exams: Reactions, nomenclature, and environmental impacts are key for objective and descriptive questions.

Formulas:

  • Alkanes: CₙH₂ₙ₊₂.
  • Alkenes: CₙH₂ₙ.
  • Alkynes: CₙH₂ₙ₋₂.
  • Substitution: RH + X₂ → RX + HX.
  • Nitration: C₆H₆ + HNO₃ → C₆H₅NO₂ + H₂O.

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on hydrocarbons in energy (e.g., fuels) or environmental issues (e.g., VOCs).
    • SSC: Objective questions on reactions or nomenclature.
    • Descriptive: Explain benzene’s stability or alkene addition reactions.
  • Real-World:
    • Energy: Methane in CNG, petrol in vehicles.
    • Industry: Ethene in polyethylene, benzene in chemicals.
    • Environment: Hydrocarbons in smog, greenhouse gases.
  • Exam Tips:
    • Master reaction mechanisms (e.g., electrophilic substitution).
    • Link to environmental science (e.g., VOC emissions) for mains.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Electrophilic Substitution in Benzene: Show C₆H₆ reacting with NO₂⁺ (from HNO₃ + H₂SO₄), forming C₆H₅NO₂. Draw benzene ring, NO₂⁺ attacking, and H⁺ leaving. Label resonance-stabilized intermediate and nitrobenzene product.

Class 12: Surface Chemistry

Detailed Concepts:

  • Surface Chemistry: Study of phenomena at interfaces (solid-liquid, liquid-gas).
  • Adsorption:
    • Physical: Weak van der Waals forces (e.g., gas on charcoal).
    • Chemical: Chemical bonds (e.g., H₂ on Ni catalyst).
    • Factors: Surface area, temperature, pressure.
  • Catalysis:
    • Homogeneous: Catalyst in same phase (e.g., SO₂ + O₂ → 2SO₃, NO catalyst).
    • Heterogeneous: Different phase (e.g., H₂ + C₂H₄ → C₂H₆, Ni catalyst).
    • Mechanism: Lowers activation energy via intermediate formation.
  • Colloids:
    • Particle size 1–1000 nm, show Tyndall effect (e.g., milk, fog).
    • Types: Lyophilic (solvent-loving, e.g., starch), lyophobic (solvent-repelling, e.g., metal sols).
    • Properties: Brownian motion, electrophoresis (charge movement).
  • Emulsions:
    • Liquid-liquid colloids (e.g., milk: fat in water).
    • Stabilized by emulsifiers (e.g., soap).
  • Applications:
    • Industrial: Catalysts in Haber process (Fe), contact process (V₂O₅).
    • Environmental: Adsorption in water purification (activated carbon).
    • Daily Life: Emulsions in cosmetics, colloids in food.
  • Applications in Exams: Adsorption, catalysis, and colloids are key for objective and descriptive questions.

Formulas:

  • Freundlich Isotherm (Adsorption): x/m = kP^(1/n) (x = mass adsorbed, m = adsorbent mass, P = pressure).
  • Catalysis (Haber Process): N₂ + 3H₂ ⇌ 2NH₃ (Fe catalyst).
  • Contact Process: 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃ (V₂O₅ catalyst).
  • Emulsion Stabilization: Soap micelle formation (RCOO⁻ surrounds oil droplets).

Applications:

  • Competitive Exams:
    • UPSC/PCS: Questions on catalysis in industry or adsorption in environmental applications.
    • SSC: Objective questions on colloids, catalysis, or adsorption.
    • Descriptive: Explain catalysis in ammonia synthesis or colloid applications.
  • Real-World:
    • Industry: Catalysts in petrochemicals, adsorption in gas masks.
    • Environment: Activated carbon in water/air purification.
    • Daily Life: Mayonnaise (emulsion), fog (colloid).
  • Exam Tips:
    • Master adsorption isotherms and catalysis mechanisms.
    • Link to environmental science (e.g., water purification) for mains.

Diagram (Textual Description):

  • Adsorption on Catalyst: Show H₂ molecules adsorbed on Ni surface, weakening H–H bonds. Draw Ni atoms in a lattice, H₂ molecules attached, and activated complex forming C₂H₆ with C₂H₄. Label physical adsorption, chemisorption, and catalytic site.

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