A chemical equation is a way to predict the way that two or more chemicals will work together. It shows the chemical formulas of substances that are reacting and the substances that are produced. Using what chemists know about the way chemicals act, we add the letter symbols together just like a math problem. It’s a written representation, using numbers and symbols, of the process that occurs during a chemical reaction. In this way, we can correctly guess if we will get a new chemical when we mix two or more chemicals together, and what that chemical will be.
The elements in an equation are denoted using their symbols. Chemical equations are either worded or written using the elements’ symbols, how much of the element and in what state (solid[s], liquid[l], gas[g]) it is in. A chemical equation is written with the reactants on the left side of an arrow and the products of the chemical reaction on the right.
For example: An aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl[aq]) and another aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3[aq]). These mixed together form sodium nitrate (NaNO3[aq]) and silver chloride (AgCl[s])
Which in symbols is: NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) → NaNO3(aq) + AgCl(s)
The solutions formed the solid AgCl. This formation can be called a precipitate and the reaction between the two solutions a precipitation reaction, because the solid produced is not dissolved, whereas all the other products are dissolved.
More about chemical equations
Chemical equations may be either unbalanced or balanced. It needs to be balanced to satisfy the law of conservation of matter. Chemical equations tell that in a closed system matter is neither created nor destroyed. The chemical equation needs to be balanced so that it follows the law of conservation of mass. A balanced chemical equation happens when the number of the different atoms of elements on the reactants side is equal to that of the product’s side. An unbalanced equation lists the reactants and products, but not the ratio between them.
Balancing chemical equations is a process of trial and error. A balanced chemical equation has the same number and types of atoms on both sides of the arrow. To balance the equation, the amounts of the reactants and products must be changed. As necessary, by adding coefficients in front of the appropriate formulas.
Methods of balancing chemical equations
A chemical equation is a written symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. The reactant chemicals are given on the left-hand side and the product chemical on the right-hand side. The law of conservation of mass says that no atoms can be made in a chemical reaction. Also, it cannot be destroyed. So the number of atoms that are present in the reactants has to balance the number of atoms that are present in the reaction.
There are two practices of balancing a chemical equation. The first one is balancing by Inspection. Balancing by inspection is the most basic method used. It works best for simple problems. More complicated ones require experience. The second one is Balancing by Numerical Method. The most important parts of the numerical methotrexate, contrary to the inspection method, it gives the answer.
