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Introduction:
The chemical equation is a language of symbols and formulas used by
chemists to describe chemical reactions. Mathematicians also have a language of
symbols which you are already familiar with. In math, twenty-two plus eighteen
equals forty is expressed symbolically as 22 + 18 = 40. The chemical equation
takes what was started with (reactants) and what was produced (products) and
expresses them in symbolic form.
chemical change
Reactants Products
A chemical equation must have equality in terms of the atoms involved. This is
called a "balanced" equation. John Dalton was the first to propose that a chemical
reaction was just a rearrangement of the atoms involved. This would also agree
with the Law of Conservation of Mass (Matter). A math equation also requires
equality (16 + 144 = 160).
Notes:
Diatomic molecules - although they are elements, they do not appear in nature
as single unbound atoms. There are 7 diatomic elements (7 dwarves!)
H2 O2 N2 F2 Cl2 Br2 I2
Chemical equations also indicate the physical state of the substances involved
in a reaction. The following are the abbreviations used for the possible physical
states of substances:
(s) - solid (l) - pure liquid (g) - gas (aq) – aqueous
Aqueous (Latin aqua = water ) means "in water solution" or dissolved in water.
Is a substance "soluble" (aqueous) or "insoluble"? (We will use solubility rules to
aid us in determining this). Precipitates are insoluble solids, (s), formed by
mixing two aqueous, (aq), solutions.
Example:
Zinc metal reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas and zinc chloride.
Is there an equality (same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the
equation)?
2ZnCl2
coefficient subscript
Key Points:
In writing chemical equations, the formulas must be written correctly first before
the equation can be balanced with coefficients.
Do not assume that an atom on the product side will have the same subscript as
it did on the reactant side.
Practice:
1. Sodium metal combines with oxygen to make solid sodium oxide.
Types of Reactions
Most of the reactions we will study can be classified into 1 of 5 general types.
Try: 2. Silver metal and powdered sulfur are heated to form silver sulfide.
12. C8H18(l) (this molecule likely got you to school this morning)