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Chemistry — Everyday Concepts

IBPS PO · General Awareness

Also prepare for:IBPS Clerk SBI PO SBI Clerk RBI Gr B

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Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

→Core Concept

Everyday chemistry involves understanding how chemical processes work in our daily activities like cooking, cleaning, preservation, and personal care. SSC examiners frequently test practical applications rather than theoretical knowledge

💡Key Rules and Properties

Chemical reactions occur everywhere around us. Oxidation causes rusting and food spoilage. Acids and bases are present in household items. pH determines the nature of substances. Catalysts speed up reactions without getting consumed.

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Formula Block

Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

pH = -log[H+]

pH < 7 = Acidic

pH = 7 = Neutral

pH > 7 = Basic

Oxidation = Loss of electrons

Reduction = Gain of electrons

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Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

→Common question types include

identifying acids/bases in household items, chemical names of common substances, preservation methods, cleaning agents, and food additives. Questions often connect chemical properties to practical uses

⚡Shortcut Trick - OILRIG Method

For remembering oxidation-reduction: OIL RIG - Oxidation Is Loss (of electrons), Reduction Is Gain (of electrons). This helps quickly identify redox reactions in everyday processes like rusting or battery functioning.

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Worked Example

Solve this step-by-step before moving on

1

Step 1

Identify the substance - Vinegar is a common household item used in cooking and cleaning

2

Step 2

Recall the acid - Vinegar contains acetic acid

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Step 3

Write the formula - Acetic acid = CH3COOH or C2H4O2

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Step 4

Additional fact - Vinegar typically contains 5-8% acetic acid in water Answer: Acetic acid (CH3COOH) Memory Trick for Common Acids: 'Very Hungry Children Like Sweet Candy' - Vinegar (Acetic), Hydrochloric (stomach), Citric (lemon), Lactic (milk), Sulphuric (battery), Carbonic (soft drinks). Common Mistakes: Students often confuse chemical names with common names. For example, calling sodium bicarbonate as 'soda' instead of baking soda, or mixing up caustic soda (NaOH) with washing soda (Na2CO3). Another frequent error is not connecting the pH scale correctly with acid-base strength. Exam Focus Areas: Concentrate on chemical names of everyday substances, food preservatives, antacids, bleaching agents, and soap-detergent chemistry. Questions about pH of common substances and identification of acids/bases in household items appear regularly. Understanding the chemistry behind cooking processes like fermentation and food preservation gives an edge in scoring.

🔑 Key Points

pH scale ranges from 0-14: acids below 7, neutral at 7, bases above 7
Acetic acid (CH3COOH) is present in vinegar, citric acid in lemon
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), washing soda is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3)
Caustic soda (NaOH) is used in soap making, very strong base
Oxidation causes rusting of iron, reduction prevents it
Antacids contain magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide to neutralize stomach acid
Bleaching powder (CaOCl2) releases chlorine for disinfection
Fermentation converts sugars to alcohol using yeast enzymes

📌 Exam Facts

Vinegar contains 5-8% acetic acid (CH3COOH)
Human stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) with pH 1.5-2.0
Common salt is sodium chloride (NaCl)
Marble and limestone are calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Plaster of Paris is calcium sulphate hemihydrate (CaSO4.1/2H2O)
Vitamin C is ascorbic acid (C6H8O6)
Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid (C9H8O4)
Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and tartaric acid

🚀 60-Second Revision

Remember: Acids have pH < 7, bases have pH > 7, neutral substances have pH = 7
Formula: Common household acids - acetic (vinegar), citric (lemon), lactic (curd)
Trap: Don't confuse baking soda (NaHCO3) with washing soda (Na2CO3)
Key fact: Antacids neutralize excess stomach acid using basic compounds
Remember: OILRIG - Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain of electrons
Important: Bleaching powder releases chlorine gas for disinfection
Focus: Chemical names of vitamin C, aspirin, and common preservatives appear frequently

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