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1.1Unit 1. Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Formulae & Equations — IAL Edexcel Linear (Chemistry) Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 12 parts Lesson 1 of 36 1 quiz

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Curriculum Equation Key معادلة تفاعل تكوين الإستر (الأسترة) - Esterification Reaction EquationFast Exam Solution
R-COOH + R2-OH ⇌ (conc. H₂SO₄) R-COO-R2 + H₂O
Word Equation & Conditions: حمض كربوكسيلي + كحول (في وجود حمض الكبريتيك المركز كعامل حفاز ونازع للماء) ⇌ إستر + ماء
Location & Specifications: الكيمياء العضوية للثانوية العامة والتحصيلي و Edexcel Chemistry.
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Lesson summary

1.1 Formulae & Equations — IAL EDEXCEL LINEAR (CHEMISTRY) notes: Use relative masses and the mole, write balanced full and ionic equations, and calculate formulae and gas quantities.Atom — the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction.Element — a subst…

  • Empirical formula
  • Molecular formula
  • Structural, displayed and skeletal formulae
  • Relative isotopic mass
  • Relative atomic mass (Ar)
  • Relative formula mass (Mr)

Part 1 of 10Basic terms and types of formula

Basic terms and types of formula
Atom
  • Atom the smallest part of an element that can take part in a chemical reaction.
Element
  • Element a substance made of one type of atom that cannot be broken into simpler substances.
Compound
  • Compound a substance with two or more elements chemically joined.
Molecule
  • Molecule two or more atoms chemically joined together.
Ion
  • Ion an atom or group of atoms that has gained or lost electrons to become charged.
Empirical formula
  • Empirical formula the smallest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
Molecular formula
  • Molecular formula the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.
Structural, displayed and skeletal formulae
  • Structural, displayed and skeletal formulae structural shows the arrangement (CH3CH2OH), displayed shows every bond and skeletal shows the carbon skeleton as lines with functional groups.

Part 2 of 10Relative masses

1Standard
  • Standard the mass of an atom is compared with 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom, fixed at exactly 12 atomic mass units.
2Relative isotopic mass
  • Relative isotopic mass the mass of an isotope relative to 1/12 of a carbon-12 atom.
  • Accurate values are rounded for A Level, such as N = 14.0 and O = 16.0.
3Relative atomic mass (Ar)
  • Relative atomic mass (Ar) the weighted mean mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12 of a carbon-12 atom.
  • It is calculated from the mass numbers and relative abundances of the isotopes.
4Relative formula mass (Mr)
  • Relative formula mass (Mr) the sum of the Ar values of all atoms in the formula.
  • Use relative formula mass for giant structures such as NaCl and relative molecular mass for molecules.
  • Relative formula mass is safe for any compound, ionic or covalent.
5Units
  • Ar and Mr have no units, and molar mass has the same number in g mol-1.
6Accuracy
  • Accuracy use Ar values from the Periodic Table, as in K2CO3 = (2 x 39.1) + 12.0 + (3 x 16.0) = 138.2.

Part 3 of 10The mole and the Avogadro constant

The mole and the Avogadro constant
Avogadro constant
  • NA or L = 6.02 x 1023 mol-1, the number of particles in one mole of atoms, molecules, ions or electrons.
Mole
  • Mole the amount of substance containing the same number of fundamental units as exactly 12.00 g of carbon-12.
Molar mass (M)
  • Molar mass (M) the mass of one mole, in g mol-1.
Amount
  • Amount n = mass / molar mass.
Number of particles
  • Number of particles equals moles x Avogadro constant.
  • Take care which particle is asked for, because 1 mol of H2O contains 3 mol of atoms.
Size of answers
  • Size of answers large or tiny answers are normal because Avogadro's constant is very large.

Part 4 of 10Balanced equations and formulae of ionic compounds

1Balancing
  • Balancing atoms are neither created nor destroyed, so each atom must balance on both sides.
  • Never change a formula; only add coefficients in front.
  • For organic combustion balance C, then H, then O.
2Steps
  • Steps write the formulae, count atoms, balance one at a time and add state symbols.
3State symbols
  • (s) solid, (l) liquid, (g) gas and (aq) aqueous.
4Ionic formulae
  • Ionic formulae multiply ions until the charges sum to zero.
  • Al3+ and SO42- give Al2(SO4)3.
  • The swap-the-numbers method gives the same result.
5Balanced equations show
  • Balanced equations show the ratio of moles, which is used to calculate masses and volumes.

Part 5 of 10Ionic equations

Dissociation
  • Dissociation in aqueous solution ionic compounds separate into ions.
Spectator ions
  • Spectator ions ions that do not take part in the reaction.
Ionic equation
  • Ionic equation shows only the particles that react, balanced for atoms and charge.
1
Write the full balanced equation with state symbols.
2
Split soluble ionic compounds into separate ions.
3
Cancel the spectator ions.
4
Write what remains.
  • Examples
    • Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s).
    • PrecipitationAg+(aq) + Cl-(aq) → AgCl(s).
    • Carbonate with acidCO32- + 2H+ → CO2 + H2O.

Part 6 of 10Types of reaction shown by equations

Types of reaction shown by equations
Displacement
  • Displacement a more reactive element displaces a less reactive one, as in Br2 + 2I- → I2 + 2Br-.
  • Aqueous bromine is toxic, corrosive and harmful to the environment, so use a fume cupboard and nitrile gloves.
  • Bromine water is corrosive above 0.2 mol dm-3, an irritant between 0.06 and 0.2 mol dm-3 and low hazard below 0.06 mol dm-3.
Neutralisation
  • Neutralisation an acid and a base give a salt and water, sometimes with CO2.
  • H+(aq) + OH-(aq) → H2O(l).
  • Hazards depend on the concentration and strength of the acid and base, and on whether the acid is monoprotic, diprotic or triprotic.
  • Solid NaOH is more corrosive than a dilute solution.
Precipitation
  • Precipitation two aqueous solutions react to form a solid, as in Ba2+ + SO42- → BaSO4(s).
  • A solid product means purification should include filtering or decanting.

Part 7 of 10Empirical and molecular formulae

1
Write the mass (or percentage) of each element.
2
Divide each by its Ar to give moles.
3
Divide every mole value by the smallest.
4
Multiply to get whole numbers if needed, for example x2 for 1.5.
5
Write the empirical formula.
6
Divide the compound's Mr by the empirical formula mass.
7
Multiply every subscript by this number to give the molecular formula.

Part 8 of 10Percentage composition and water of crystallisation

Percentage by mass
  • (Ar x number of atoms of the element / Mr of compound) x 100.
Water of crystallisation
  • Water of crystallisation water that is part of a crystal structure.
  • A hydrated compound contains it and is written with a dot, as in CuSO4.5H2O.
  • An anhydrous compound does not contain it, as in CuSO4.
  • Degrees of hydration differCoCl2.6H2O and CoCl2.2H2O.
Reversibility
  • Reversibility heating a hydrated salt drives off the water: CuSO4.5H2O ⇌ CuSO4 + 5H2O.
Finding x in MX.xH2O
1
Weigh the hydrated salt.
2
Heat to constant mass.
3
Find moles of anhydrous salt and moles of water lost from the two masses.
4
Divide by the smaller value to find the ratio, which gives x.

Part 9 of 10The ideal gas equation

Equation
  • PV = nRT.
    What the symbols mean: p = pressure (Pa) · V = volume (m3) · n = amount of gas (mol) · R = 8.31 J mol−1 K−1 · T = temperature (K = °C + 273)
  • P = pressure in Pa, V = volume in m3, n = moles, R = 8.31 J mol-1 K-1, T = temperature in K.
Unit conversions
  • Unit conversions kPa to Pa multiply by 103;
    • cm3 to m3 multiply by 10-6;
    • dm3 to m3 multiply by 10-3;
    • °C to K add 273.
Uses
  • Uses find the moles of a gas or of a volatile liquid above its boiling point.
  • With the mass, the molar mass is found, and with the empirical formula the molecular formula is deduced.
Molar volume
  • 24.0 dm3 mol-1 at room temperature and pressure.
Working
  • Working show all working so marks can be given despite one error.

Part 10 of 10Reacting masses, yield and atom economy

Reacting masses
  • Reacting masses use the balanced equation ratio to find moles of product and then mass.
Limiting reagent
  • Limiting reagent the reactant that runs out first determines the theoretical yield.
Percentage yield
  • Percentage yield actual yield / theoretical yield x 100.
Atom economy
  • Mr of desired product / total Mr of reactants x 100.
  • High atom economy means less waste and is important for sustainable processes.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Relative atomic massThe weighted mean mass of an atom of an element relative to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
MoleThe amount of substance containing the same number of particles as exactly 12.00 g of carbon-12.
Avogadro constant6.02 x 10²³ mol⁻¹, the number of particles in one mole.
Empirical formulaThe simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound.
Spectator ionAn ion present in a reaction mixture that does not take part in the reaction.
Water of crystallisationWater molecules that are part of the structure of a crystal.
Atom economyMr of the desired product divided by the total Mr of the reactants, x 100.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Changing a formula to balance an equation — only coefficients may be changed.
2
Leaving spectator ions in an ionic equation — cancel them and balance for charge.
3
Using °C or cm³ in PV = nRT — convert to K and m³ first.
4
Confusing moles of molecules with moles of atoms — 1 mol of H₂O contains 3 mol of atoms.
5
Giving units for Ar or Mr — relative masses have no units.

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