General Reactions of Inorganic Chemistry

Dr Inam Ul Haq Jazbi General Reactions
General Reactions
1. Action of metals on dilute acids (displacement reaction of dilute acids with metals)

Metal(s) + Acid(aq) Dilute
 Salt(aq) + H2
M(II)(s) H2 (M = Zn, Mg, Ca, Pb, Fe, Sn)
II
+ 2HCl(aq) 
Dilute
MCl2(aq) +
2M(III)(s) 3H2 (M = Al)
III
+ 6HCl(aq) Dilute
 2MCl3(aq) +

MII(s) + H2SO4(aq) Dilute
 MSO4(aq) + H2 (MII = Zn, Mg, Fe)
2MIII(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) 
Dilute
M2(SO4)3 + 3H2 (MIII = Al)

MII(s) + 2HNO3(aq) Dilute
 M(NO3)2 + H2 (MII = Mg, Mn)

2. Action of metal oxides on acids (Neutralization of basic metal oxides with acids)

Metal oxide + Acid(aq)  Salt(aq) + H2O
MO + 2HCl(aq)  MCl2(aq) + H2O (M = Zn, Ca, Mg, Fe)
M2O3 + 6HCl(aq)  2MCl3(aq) + 3H2O (M = Fe, Cr)

3. Action of acids on bases (Neutralization of acids with bases)

Base(aq) + Acid(aq)  Salt(aq) + H2O
MOH + HCl(aq)  MCl + H2O (MI = Na, K, NH4+)
M(OH)2 + 2HCl(aq)  MCl2 + 2H2O (MII = Ca, Mg)

MOH + HNO3(aq)  MNO3 + H2O (M = Na, K, NH4+)

MOH + H2SO4(aq) Low
 
temp .
MHSO4 + H2O (M = Na, K)
2MOH + H2SO4(aq) H 
igh temp .
M2SO4 + 2H2O (M = Na, K)

4. Action of acids on metal carbonates (decomposition of carbonates by dilute acids)

Carbonates + Acid(aq) Dilute
 Salt(aq) + H2O + CO2
M2CO3 + 2HCl(aq) 
Dilute
2MCl(aq) + H2O + CO2  
 I 
M2CO3 + 2HNO3(aq) Dilute
 2MNO3(aq) + H2O + CO2 M  Na, K 
M2CO3 + H2SO4(aq) Dilute
 M2SO4(aq) + H2O + CO2  
 
MCO3 + 2HCl(aq) Dilute
 MCl2(aq) + H2O + CO2  
 II 
MCO3 + H2SO4(aq) Dilute
 MSO4(aq) + H2O + CO2 M  Ca, Mg

 
MCO3 + 2HNO3(aq) 
Dilute
M(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2  

5. Action of dilute acids on metal bicarbonates (decomposition of bicarbonates by dilute acids)

Acid(aq) + Bicarbonates Dilute
 Salt(aq) + H2O + CO2
MHCO3 + HCl(aq) 
Dilute
NaCl(aq) + H2O + CO2 (M = Na, K)
M(HCO3)2 + 2HCl(aq) Dilute
 MCl2(aq) + 2H2O + 2CO2 (M = Ca, Mg)
2MHCO3 + H2SO4(aq) 
Dilute
M2SO4(aq) + 2H2O + 2CO2 (M = Na, K)
M(HCO3)2 + H2SO4(aq) Dilute
 MSO4(aq) + 2H2O + 2CO2 (M = Ca, Mg)
MHCO3 + HNO3(aq) Dilute
 MNO3(aq) + H2O + CO2 (M = Na, K)

6. Action of bases on ammonium salts (decomposition of ammonium salts into NH3 gas)

Base + Ammonium salts 
Heat
 Salt + H2O + NH3
MOH + NH4Cl 
Heat
 MCl + H2O + NH3 (M = Na, K)
M(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl 
Heat
 MCl2 + 2H2O + 2NH3 (M = Ca)

7. Action of bases on salts of heavy metals

Base + Salt of heavy metal  Salt + Hydroxide of heavy metals
e.g. 2NaOH + MCl2  2NaCl + M(OH)2 [M = Mg, Ca, Cu, Zn]

, Dr Inam Ul Haq Jazbi General Reactions
9. Action of Bases on Metals (displacement reaction of base with metals)

Metal + Base  Salt + H2
2Al + 2MOH + 2H2O  2MAlO2 + 3H2 [M = Na, K]
Zn + 2MOH  M2ZnO2 + H2 [M = Na, K]

10. Action of Water on Salts (Hydrolysis)

Salt + Water  Base + Acid
NH4Cl + H2O  NH4OH + HCl (Acidic solution)
Na2CO3 + H2O  2NaOH + H2CO3 (Basic solution)

11. Action of Water on Metal Carbides

Carbide + Water  Base + Hydrocarbon
Al4C3 + 12H2O  4Al(OH)3 + 3CH4 (Methane)
CaC2 + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 + C2H2 (Ethyne)

12. Action of Water on Metal Nitrides

Metal nitrides + H2O  Base + NH3
Mg3N2 + 6H2O  3Mg(OH)2 + 2NH3
AlN + 3H2O  Al(OH)3 + NH3

13. Action of Water on Chlorides of Phosphorus

PCl3 + 3H2O  3HCl + H3PO3
PCl5 + 4H2O  5HCl + H3PO4

14. Action of Water on Metal Oxides

Metal oxides + H2O  Base
Na2O + H2O  2NaOH
CaO + H2O  Ca(OH)2

15. Action of Water on Non-Metallic Oxides

Non-metallic oxides + H2O  Oxyacid
2NO2 + H2O  HNO3 + HNO2
CO2 + H2O  H2CO3
P2O3 + 3H2O  2H3PO3
P2O5 + 3H2O  2H3PO4
SO2 + H2O  H2SO3
SO3 + H2O  H2SO4

16. Action of Water on Active Metals

Active metal + H2O  Base + H2
2MI + 2H2O  2MOH + H2 (MI = Na, K)
MII + 2H2O  M(OH)2 + H2 (MII = Ca)

17. Action of Water (Steam) on Less active Metals

Less active metals + Steam  Metal oxide + H2
M + H2O(g)  MO + H2 [M = Mg, Zn]
3Fe + 4H2O(g)  Fe3O4 + 4H2

18. Action of Water on Non-Metals

C + H2O(g)  CO + H2