General Inorganic Chemistry

(Reaction Prediction)

Common Oxidising Agents:

 KMnO4
 K2Cr2O7
 Conc. HNO3
 Conc. H2SO4
 F2
 Cl2 Strong OA
 Br2
 I2 Weak OA
 PbO2 Powerful OA due to inert pair effect
 MnO2
 O3
 O2
 H2O2 Powerful OA in acidic medium
 BiO3 Powerful OA due to inert pair effect
 Cu2+, Au3+, Ag+
 NaOCl
 KClO3
 KIO3
 XeF2
 XeF4
 Ce(SO4)2
 KO2
 KO3 (Potassium Ozonide)
Some Common Reducing Agents:
 Metals (Na, Li, Al, Mg, Zn, etc)
 NaH
 CaH2
 LiAlH4
 HI
 PH3
 H2S
 AsH3
 H2
 C
 CO
 N2H4 Rocket Fuel
 NH2OH
 H2C2O4
 SnCl2 RA due to inert pair effect
 SO2
 Na2S2O3 (Sodium Thiosulphate)
 H3PO2
 H3PO3
 B2H6
 NaBH4

Notes:
 Principal action of SO2 is reducing action (it is
called reducing bleach)
 Principal action of H2O2 is oxidising action (it is
called oxidising bleach)
 Eg of oxidising bleach: O3, H2O2, Cl2
 NH4+(aq) is almost impossible to oxidise
 FeSO4.(NH4)2.6H2O (FAS/Mohr’s Salt) is used to
titrate

 The following undergo disproportionation reactions in basic medium:

o X2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ X ̄ + XO3 ̄ (X = Cl/Br/I)
Eg: Br2 + NaOH(aq)/KOH(aq)/Na2CO3(aq) ⎯⎯⎯ Br ̄ + BrO3 ̄
(Bromate ion)
o F2 does not undergo disproportionation reaction as it does not show +ve OS
(most electronegative element)
Reactions:
 F2 / XeF2 / XeF4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ O2↑ (very powerful oxidising agents)
( / / / )
 S2O3 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ SO4 2-
/
 S2O3 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ S4O62-
()
 P4 + NaOH/KOH/Ca(OH)2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ PH3 + H2PO4
White (Phophine) (Hypophoshpite ion)
Phosphorous
 S + OH ̄ ⎯⎯⎯ S2 ̄ (aq) + S2O32 ̄ (aq)
 Ammonium salt + Strong alkali ⎯⎯⎯ Ammonia gas
/ ( )
NH4Cl/NH4Br/(NH4)2SO4/(NH4)2CO3 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ NH3↑
 Phosphonium salt + Strong Alkali ⎯⎯⎯ Phosphine gas
()
PH4I + KOH ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ PH3↑ + KI
 Metal Nitride on hydrolysis ⎯⎯⎯ Ammonia gas
()
Mg3N2/Ca3N2/AlN ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ NH3↑ + Mg(OH)2/Ca(OH)2/Al(OH)3↓
 Metal Phosphides on hydrolysis produce phosphine gas
()
Ca3P2/AlP ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ PH3 ↑ + Ca(OH)2/Al(OH)3
AlCl3/ZnCl2 (aq) + H2
 Al/Zn
NaAlO2 (aq) / Na2ZnO2 (aq) + H2
 NO3 ̄ /NO2 ̄ /SCN ̄ /[Fe(CN)6]3 ̄ + Zn/Al ⎯⎯⎯ NH3↑ + AlO2 ̄ /ZnO22 ̄
( )
 SO32 ̄ (aq) + Zn/Al ⎯⎯⎯⎯ H2S + Zn+2/Al+3

 Cyanide salts (simple or complex) with H2SO4:

HCN ↑ (toxic vapours)
KCN / K4[Fe(CN)6]
CO ↑
 ∆
 M2CO3 (s) ⎯ No decomposition
(M = Na/K/Rb/Cs)
∆
 Li2CO3 (s) ⎯ Li2O + CO2↑
∆
 MCO3 (s) ⎯ MO + CO2↑
(M = Alkaline earth metals/Cu/Pb)
∆
Eg: CaCO3 ⎯⎯ CaO + CO2↑
∆
PbCO3 ⎯⎯ PbO + CO2↑
∆
 2MHCO3 (s) ⎯ M2CO3 (s) + CO2↑ + H2O↑
(M = Na/K/Rb/Cs)
∆
Eg: 2 NaHCO3 (s) ⎯ Na2CO3 (s) + CO2↑ + H2O↑
∆
2 NaHCO3 (aq) ⎯ Na2CO3 (aq) + CO2↑ + H2O(l)
∆
Ca(HCO3)2 (aq) ⎯ CaCO3↓ + H2O(l) + CO2↑
∆
Mg(HCO3)2 (aq) Mg(OH)2 + H2O(l) + CO2↑
 Ag2CO3 (s) ⎯⎯ 2Ag(s) + CO2 + O2

 With Nitrates:
∆
o MNO3 (s) ⎯ MNO2 (s) + O2↑
(M = K/Rb/Cs)
∆
Eg: KNO3 (s) KNO2 (s) + O2↑
∆
LiNO3 (s) ⎯ Li2O (s) + NO2↑ + O2↑
NaNO2 (s) + O2↑
NaNO3 (s)
Na2O (s) + N2↑ + O2↑
∆
o M(NO3)2 (s) ⎯ MO (s) + NO2↑ + O2↑
(M = Cu/Zn/Pb/Mg/Ca/Sr/Be/Ba etc)
∆
Eg: Cu(NO3)2 (s) ⎯ CuO (s) + NO2↑ + O2↑
∆
Mg(NO3)2 (s) ⎯ MgO (s) + NO2↑ + O2↑

 With Sulphates:
∆
o M2SO4 (s) ⎯⎯ No decomposition
(M = Na/K/Rb/Cs)
∆ °
o MSO4 (s) ⎯ MO (s) + SO3↑ ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ MO (s) + SO2↑ + O2↑
(M = Be/Mg/Ca/Sr/Cu/Zn etc.)
∆
Eg: CuSO4 (s) ⎯ CuO (s) + SO3↑
∆
Al2(SO4)3 (s) ⎯ Al2O3 (s) + SO3↑
∆
Ag2SO4 (s) ⎯ Ag (s) + SO3↑ + O2↑
∆
Li2SO4 (s) ⎯ Li2O (s) + SO3↑
∆
o FeSO4 (s) ⎯ Fe2O3 + SO2↑ + SO3↑
∆
o Fe2(SO4)3 (s) ⎯ Fe2O3 + SO3↑
 ∆
o HgSO4 (s) ⎯ Hg (l) + SO3↑ + O2↑

 Salts and Oxides of Ag, Hg easily decompose on heating to produce metal.

∆
o Ag2O (s) ⎯ Ag(s) + O2
∆
o HgO ⎯ Hg(l) + O2
. .
o Au2O3/PtO2 ⎯⎯⎯ Au/Pt + O2 (Room temperature)
∆
o Na2C2O4 (s) ⎯⎯ Na2CO3 (s) + CO↑
∆
o CaC2O4 (s) ⎯ CaO (s) + CO2↑ + CO↑ (CaCO3 gets further decomposed)
∆
o Ag2C2O4 (s) ⎯ 2Ag(s) + 2CO2↑

 Heating of Ammonium Salts:

∆
o NH4X ⎯ NH3↑ + HX↑
(X = Cl/Br/I)
∆
o (NH4)2SO4 ⎯⎯ 2NH3↑ + H2SO4 (l)
∆
o NH4HS(s) ⎯ NH3↑ + H2S↑
∆
o NH4NO2 (s) ⎯ N2↑ + H2O↑
∆
o NH4NO3 (s) ⎯ N2O↑ + H2O↑
∆
o N2H5NO2 (s) ⎯ HN3 + H2O

∆
o NH4ClO4 (s) ⎯ N2↑ + Cl2↑ + O2↑ + H2O↑
∆
o NH4IO3 (s) ⎯ N2↑ + H2O↑ + I2↑ + O2↑
∆
o (NH4)2Cr2O7 (s) ⎯⎯ N2↑ + H2O↑ + Cr2O3 (s)
 Metal Azides are used as explosives:

∆
o Zn(N3)2 (s) ⎯ Zn(s) + N2↑
∆ ∆ ∆
o H3PO4 (l) ⎯⎯ H4P2O7 ⎯⎯ (HPO3)n ⎯ P4O10
∆ ∆ °
o H2SO4 (l) ⎯ H2S2O7 ⎯⎯ SO3 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ SO2↑ + O2↑
∆
o HBO3 ⎯ B2O3 + H2O↑
∆
o H4SiO3 ⎯⎯ SiO2 + H2O↑
∆
o H2C2O4 ⎯⎯ H2O↑ + CO↑ + CO2↑
∆ ∆
o H3PO2 ⎯ H3PO3 + PH3↑ ⎯ H3PO4 + PH3↑
∆
o HNO2 ⎯ HNO3↑ + NO↑ + H2O
∆
o H2SO3 ⎯⎯ H2O + SO2↑

 Salts having acidic hydrogen:

∆
o NaH2PO4 ⎯⎯ H2O↑ + NaPO3
(Sodium Metaphosphate)
(has polymeric structure like Calgon (NaPO3)6; used to remove permanent hardness in water)
∆
o 2Na2HPO4 ⎯ Na4P2O7 + H2O↑
(Sodium Pyrophosphate)
∆
o Na(NH4)HPO4.4H2O ⎯⎯ NaPO3 + H2O↑ + NH3↑
(Microcosmic Salt)
∆
o Mg(NH4)HPO4.4H2O ⎯ Mg2P2O7 + H2O↑ + NH3↑
(Magnesium Pyrohposphate)

 Heating of Halides:
∆
o MgCl2.6H2O (s) ⎯⎯ MgO(s) + HCl↑ + H2O↑ (Internal hydrolysis)
( ),
o MgCl2.6H2O (s) ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ MgCl2 + H2O↑
∆
o FeCl3.6H2O (s) ⎯⎯ Fe2O3 (s) + H2O↑ + HCl↑
∆
o AlCl3.6H2O (s) ⎯⎯ Al2O3 (s) + HCl↑ + H2O↑
o CaCl2.6H2O (s)
∆
SrCl2.6H2O (s) ⎯⎯ MCl2 + H2O↑ (M = Ca/Sr/Ba)

BaCl2.6H2O (s)
(Due to high ionic character, they do not suffer internal hydrolysis)
 ∆
o FeCl3 (s) ⎯ FeCl2 + Cl2↑
∆
o Hg2Cl2 (s) ⎯⎯⎯ HgCl2 + Cl2↑
∆
o PbCl4 (s) ⎯⎯ PbCl2 + Cl2↑

 Heating of Chromates and Dichromates:

∆
o Al2O3/CuO/MgO/ZnO/Fe2O3 ⎯ No decomposition

 Hydrolysis of Oxides:
o The oxides are anhydrides of acids/bases. Eg:
 SO3
 N2O5
 P4O10
 Cl2O7, Cl2O5, Cl2O3, Cl2O
 BaO
 Na2O
o Types of Oxides:
 Acidic Oxides: SO2, SO3, N2O3, N2O5, P4O10, Cl2O7, Cl2O5, etc.
 Basic Oxides: Na2O, MgO, CaO, BaO, etc.
 Neutral Oxides: N2O, NO, CO, etc. (do not react with acids/bases)
 Amphoteric Oxides: BeO, ZnO, Al2O3, Cr2O3, SnO, SnO2, PbO, PbO2,
As2O3, Sb2O3, etc.
 Mixed Anhydrides: ClO2, ClO3, Cl2O6, NO2, N2O4, Mn3O4, Fe3O4, etc.
o Reactions of Oxides:
 ( )
o ClO3/Cl2O6 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ KClO3 + KClO4↓
o All carboxylic acids are weak acids
o All hydracids are weak except HCl, HBr, HI
o Oxyacids: HmXOn (X is a
non-metal)
 Also written as
(OH)mXOn-m
 If (n-m)≥2 per X atom,
generally strong acid.
 If (n-m)<2 per X atom,
generally weak acid.

o Eg of SA: HClO4, HI, HBr, HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, HClO3
o Decreasing acidic strength: HClO4 > HI > HBr > HCl > HNO3
o Most metal oxides are insoluble in water except Na+ to Cs+ and Sr2+, Ba2+, Ca2+
()
ZnO/MnO/Cr2O3/CoO/CuO/B2O3/SiO2/Al2O3 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ no reaction
o Metal Oxides in which the metal has high OS (≥5) are water soluble and form
strong acids:
 MnO/MnO2/Cr2O3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ no reaction
 CrO3 + H2O (l) ⎯⎯ HCrO4 (aq) (water soluble)
 Mn2O7 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HMnO4 (aq)
 MnO3 + H2O (l) ⎯⎯ H2MnO4 (aq)
 V2O5 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ (HVO3)n
 Bi2O5 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HBiO3
 Hydrolysis of Halides/Oxyhalides:
o BX3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ B(OH)3 + HX (aq)
(X = Cl/Br/I) (Soln is strongly acidic)
o BF3 undergoes partial hydrolysis:
BF3 + 3H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H3BO3 + 3HF
3BF3 + 3HF ⎯⎯⎯ 3HBF4
4BF3 + 3H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H3BO3 + 3HBF4 (1:3 ratio of products)
o BHCl4 does not exist as 4 Cl-atoms cause heavy stearic hindrance around the
small B-atom.
o BF3 + KF ⎯⎯ KBF4
o BCl3 + KCl ⎯⎯ No reaction
o AlCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Al(OH)3↓ + HCl
o CF4, CCl3, CHCl3 etc do not react with water due to absence of vacant p-orbital.
o CCl4 + super-heated steam (H2O(g)) ⎯⎯ COCl2 + HCl
(Phosgene)
o SiCl4 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H4SiO4 + HCl ⎯⎯ (H2SiO3)n
(Silicic acid – unstable) (polymeric gel-like)
o SiF4 also undergoes partial hydrolysis:
 SiF4 + 4H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H4SiO4 + 4HF
(Silicic Acid)
 SiF4 + 3H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2SiO3 + 4HF
(Metasilicic acid)
 2SiF4 + 4HF ⎯⎯⎯ 2H2SiF6
 3SiF4 + 3H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H2SiO3 + 2H2SiF6
o SnCl4 + 3H2O ⎯⎯⎯ H2SnO3 + 4HCl
(Colourless liquid)
o SnCl2 + H2O(l) ⇋ Sn(OH)Cl↓ + HCl
(Solid) (Incomplete hydrolysis) (White ppt)
o PbCl4 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ PbO2 + HCl
o PbCl2 is insoluble in water.
o NX3 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ NH3 + HOX
(X = Cl/Br/I) (HOCl/HOBr/HOI - Hypohalous acid)
o NF3 does not undergo hydrolysis due to its almost non-polar nature.
o PCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H3PO3 + HCl
o PCl5 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H3PO4 + HCl
(excess)
()
o PCl5 + H2O(moisture) ⎯⎯ POCl3 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯⎯ H3PO4 + H2O
o AsCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H3AsO3 + HCl
o SbCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ SbOCl↓ + HCl
(White ppt)
o BiCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ BiOCl↓ + HCl
(White ppt – turbid)
o S2Cl2/S2F2 + H2O ⎯⎯ S↓ + SO2↑ + HCl/HF
o SCl2/SF2 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ S↓ + SO2↑ + HCl/HF
o SF4 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ SO2↑ + HF
o SF6 is chemically inert and does not undergo hydrolysis (stearically hindered)
o SeF4 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ SeO2 + HF
o SeF6 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ H6SeO3 + HF ⎯⎯⎯ H2SeO4
(Selenic Acid)
o TeF6 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ Te(OH)6 + HF (Te is large and can accommodate 6 OH-)
o ClF3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HF + HClO3
o BrF5 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HF + HBrO3
o I2Cl6 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HCl + HIO2
o IF5 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HF + HIO3
(Iodic acid)

o IF7 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HF + HIO4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ H5IO6 or IO(OH)5

(H5BrO6 and H5ClO6 do not exist)
o XeF2 + H2O ⎯⎯ Xe↑ + O2↑ + HF
o XeF4 + H2O ⎯⎯ XeO3 + Xe↑ + O2↑ + HF
o XeF6 + H2O ⎯⎯ XeO3 + HF
o SOCl2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2SO3 + HCl
o SO2Cl2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2SO4 + HCl
o POCl3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H3PO4 + HCl
o NOCl + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ HNO2 + HCl
o CrO2Cl2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2CrO4 + HCl

o Bases stronger than OH ̄ withdraw H+ in combined state:

Eg:
 H̄
 B̄
 Carbides:
 C4 ̄ (Methanide)
 C34 ̄ (Sesquicarbide/Allylide)
 C22 ̄ (Acetylide)
 Si4 ̄
  Ge4 ̄
 N ̄ , NH ̄ (imide), NH2 ̄ (amide)
 P3 ̄
 As3 ̄
 Sb3 ̄
 Bi3 ̄
 O2 ̄ , O22 ̄ , O2 ̄ , O3 ̄ (ozonide)

o Hydrolysis of Powerful RA with Water (H ̄ reacts with water):

 NaH / CaH2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H2↑ + NaOH / Ca(OH)2
 LiAlH4 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H2↑ + LiOH + Al(OH)3
 LiAlH4 + D2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ HD↑ + LiOD + Al(OD)3
 CH4 + H2O ⎯⎯⎯ No reaction (H+ present)
 SiH4 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H2↑ + SiO2 (reacts because of H ̄ )
 B2H6 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ H2↑ + H3BO3
 Al4C3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ Al(OH)3↓ + CH4↑
 Be2C + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Be(OH)3↓ + CH4↑
 Mg2C3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Mg(OH)2↓ + C3H4↑
 Na2C2 / CaC2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ NaOH/Ca(OH)2 + C2H2↑
()
 Mg2Si + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ Mg(OH)2↓ + SiH4 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ SiO2 + H2
Magnesium Silicide Silane Silica
()
 Ca3B2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Ca(OH)2 + B2H6 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ H3BO3 + H2↑
 Ca3N2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Ca(OH)2 + NH3↑
 NaNH2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ NaOH + NH3↑
 Ca3P2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Ca(OH)2 + PH3↑
 Ca3As2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ Ca(OH)3 + AsH3↑
o Hydrolysis Of Oxides (powerful OA):
 O2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ 2OH
 O22 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2O2
 O2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2O2 + O2
 O3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ H2O2 + O2
 Na2O + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ NaOH
∆
 Na2O2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ NaOH + H2O2 ⎯⎯⎯ NaOH + H2O + O2
∆
 Na2O2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ NaOH(aq) + H2O + O2
 KO2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ KOH + H2O2 + O2
∆
 KO2 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯⎯ KOH + H2O + O2
∆
 KO3 + H2O(l) ⎯⎯ KOH + H2O2 + O2 ⎯⎯ KOH + H2O + O2
Potassium Ozonide
(Orange)

 Chlorination of stable oxides in the presence of Coke:

o B2O3 + C + Cl2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ BCl3 + CO↑
o Al2O3 + C + Cl2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ AlCl3 + CO↑
o BeO + C + Cl2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ BeCl2 + CO↑