Download Reactions of Non-Metals

Mark Important
Points in Margin
Date: ___________
Reactions of Non-Metals
Unit: Reactions/Descriptive Chemistry
Knowledge/Understanding Goals:
 reactions involving NH3, H2S, H2O2, and nonmetal oxides
NH3 (ammonia)
Synthesis:
N2 (g) + 3 H2 (g) Ý 2 NH3 (g)
Made by the Haber process: 450°C and 200–600 atm pressure. Ammonia is
continuously removed, which keeps pulling the equilibrium to the right.
Ammonia can form a complex ion with metal ions, such as:
Ag+ (aq) + 2 NH3 (aq) → Ag(NH3}2+ (aq)
Ammonia acts as a weak base, forming the ammonium ion as its conjugate
acid:
NH3 (aq) + H+ (aq) Ý NH4+ (aq)
In redox reactions, NH3 always acts as a reducing agent (N is oxidized).
H2S (hydrogen sulfide)
Hydrogen sulfide acts as a weak acid:
H2S (aq) + H2O (ℓ) Ý HS− (aq) + H3O+ (aq)
H2S acts as a reducing agent. (S is oxidized, usually to elemental sulfur.)
Use this space for additional notes.
Chemistry II
Copyright © 2009–2017 Mr. Bigler.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms
of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by
the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and
no Back-Cover Texts.
Page 1 of 3
Mark Important
Points in Margin
Reactions of Non-Metals
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide)
H2O2 is a strong oxidizing agent.
In water, H2O2 disproportionates, meaning half of the oxygen molecules are
oxidized O2 and the other half are reduced to H2O:
2 H2O2 (aq) → O2 (g) + 2 H2O (ℓ)
Carbonate Ions
Carbonate and hydrogen carbonate ions in solution react with acids to
produce water and CO2:
H+ + CO3− (aq) → CO2 (g) + H2O (ℓ)
This happens in weak acids such as NH4+ as well as strong acids.
Use this space for additional notes.
Chemistry II
Mr. Bigler
Page 2 of 3
Mark Important
Reactions of Non-Metals
Points in Margin
Nonmetal Oxides and Oxoacids
Nonmetal oxides react with water to form acids:
SO3 (g) + H2O (ℓ) Ý H2SO4 (ℓ)
N2O5 (s) + H2O (ℓ) Ý 2 HNO3 (ℓ)
N2O3 (g) + H2O (ℓ) Ý 2 HNO2 (aq)
P4O10 (s) + 6 H2O (ℓ) Ý 4 H3PO4 (s)
In the reverse reactions, oxoacids decompose into the nonmetal oxide and
water.
For these reactions, the oxidation number of the central atom in the
nonmetal oxide (i.e., the one that’s not oxygen) is always the same in the acid
as it was in the oxide.
Oxoacid Strength
oxoacid: an acid containing a polyatomic ion with oxygen, such as HClO4 or
HNO3.
1. The higher the oxidation number of the central atom, the stronger
the oxoacid. E.g., HClO4 > HClO3 > HClO2 > HClO
2. The greater the electronegativity of the central atom, the stronger
the oxoacid. E.g., HClO > HBrO > HIO
Oxoacids decompose into water and a nonmetallic oxide:
H2SO4
Use this space for additional notes.
Chemistry II
Mr. Bigler
Page 3 of 3