3.3.8

Chemical Equations

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Chemical Equations

A chemical equation shows what happens in a chemical reaction using symbols or words. The reactants (the chemicals that are reacting) are on the left-hand side, and the products (the chemicals that are forming) are on the right-hand side.

Illustrative background for Word equationsIllustrative background for Word equations ?? "content

Word equations

  • The word equation for the creation of sodium oxide is:
    • sodium + oxygen → sodium oxide
Illustrative background for Symbol equationsIllustrative background for Symbol equations ?? "content

Symbol equations

  • Symbol equations must be 'balanced' (have the same number of atoms of each element on each side of the equation). This is because atoms aren't created or destroyed during chemical reactions.
  • The balanced symbol equation for the creation of sodium oxide is:
                      4Na + O2 → 2Na2O

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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