State Symbols
Science: KS3, topic 2.6.3
State Symbols
State symbols are letters that tell us what state of matter a substance is in. There are 4 different state symbols:
(s)
- (s) is used for solids.
- E.g. Mg(s).
- E.g. Na(s).
(l)
- (l) is used for pure liquids.
- E.g. H2O(l).
- E.g. Hg(l) (mercury is liquid at room temperature).
(aq)
- (aq) is used for aqueous solutions (substances dissolved in water), and therefore it is used more often than (l).
- E.g. NaOH(aq).
- E.g. H2SO4(aq).
(g)
- (g) is used for gases.
- E.g. H2(g).
- E.g. CO2(g).
Test yourself on State Symbols
What state symbol is correct for each of these substances at room temperature?
What do we call the letters that tell us the state of matter of substances in a chemical equation?
What type of substance is represented by the state symbol (aq) in a chemical equation?
A substance is shown as (s) in one equation and (aq) in another equation. What does this change in symbol tell us about the substance?
Water is shown as H2O(l) rather than H2O(aq) in chemical equations. Why is this?