CHAPTER 4

CHEMICAL EQUATION

General Objectives:
After the study of this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Define chemical equation;
2. Know the parts of Chemical Equation
3. Understand what a balanced chemical equation is and what information it gives
including the meaning of various terms and symbol used in equation
4. Be able to follow the steps in balancing simple chemical equation; and
5. Know the different types of chemical equation and be able to determine what types of
chemical substances undergo each type of reaction

4.1. DEFINITION OF CHEMICAL EQUATION

Chemical Equation is a written statement that uses symbol and formulas instead of
words to describe the changes that occurs in a chemical reaction. A chemical equation
illustrates the law of conservation of mass, that matter cannot be created nor destroyed in
chemical reaction. Therefore, the equation must be balanced. That is the same number of
atoms of each element must appear on both sides of the equation.

4.2. PARTS OF CHEMICAL EQUATION

1. Reactants – are the substances that combine in the reaction. Formulas of reactants
must be correctly written on the left side of equation
2. Product – are the substances that are formed by reaction. Formulas of product must
be correctly written at the side of the equation.

Other terms and symbol used in chemical equation:

Essential Symbols Meaning

Found between reactants and products,
means “react” to form; yields, produces,
(This symbol points to product)
 Separates each reactant and each product.
It means “reacts with”; “combines with” (if
it is used to separate each reactants. It
means “and” (if it is used to separate each
product)

Optional Symbols:
Placed after the formula of a product that is
gas (gas being liberated)

Placed after the formula of a product that is

an insoluble solid (a precipitate)

Physical State indicates the physical state of the substance whose formula it follows:
(g) Indicates that the substance is a gas
(l) Indicates that the substance is a liquid
(s) Indicates that the substance is a solid
( aq ) Indicates that the substance is in aqueous (water solution)

Coefficients – the number placed in front of the formulas to balance the equation.

Condition – word or symbol placed above or below the arrow to indicate conditions used
to make the reactions occur. For instance, a delta sign (∆) means heat. Therefore, the
symbols:
∆
or ∆ means heat is added and

elec
means electrical energy is added.

A catalyst is also indicated above or below an arrow.

A catalyst is a substance that alters the speed of the reactions without being
consumed in the reaction. In general, a catalyst is used to speed up reaction, but there are
also some catalysts that are used to slow down reactions. These are sometimes called
negative catalyst or inhibitors.
4.3. STEPS IN WRITING AND BALANCING A CHEMICAL EQUATION

1. Write the correct formulas for the reactants and products

a. Elemental substance are usually shown as monoatomic (their symbols require
no subscript)
Exceptions: N2, H2, Cl2, F2, Br2, I2 (they are written in this form when
uncombined)
b. Formulas of compounds can be obtained from the oxidation number of the
element in the compound.
2. In balancing equation, start with more complex parts (the compounds that have
several element in them)
3. Balance the elements one at a time by placing the smallest possible whole number in
front of the formulas (not in between or as subscript), hydrogen and oxygen are last to
be balanced.
4. A balanced equation should have the same number of atoms of each element on both
side of equation. In making the adjustments, balance the equation; do not change the
formula of any substance correctly written in step 1.
5. Poly atomic ions or radicals are balanced as a group

4.4. TYPES OF CHEMICAL EQUATIONS (REACTION)

1. Direct combination or synthesis is a reaction in which two or more substances

(either or compounds) combine to form one product.
𝑨 + 𝑩 → 𝑨𝑩
a. Both Elements: 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 + 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 → 𝐵𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠
b. A compound and an element
c. Both compounds:
 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑂𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 (𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒)
 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑂𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 → 𝑂𝑥𝑦 𝐴𝑐𝑖𝑑
 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑂𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝑁𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑂𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 → 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑡

2. Decomposition or Analysis is a reaction in which one compound breaks down into

two (2) or more new substances (either its constituent elements or simpler compounds)
𝑨𝑩 → 𝑨 + 𝑩
 These reactions are often made possible with the use of heat, light or electricity. The
substances decomposition reactions are:
a. Decomposition of Hydrates – hydrates decompose to yield the anhydrous
salt water
b. Decomposition of Metallic Chlorates – Metallic chlorates when heated
yields metallic chloride and oxygen.
c. Decomposition of Metallic Hydroxides – Metallic hydroxides when heated
yields metallic oxides and water.
d. Decomposition of Metallic Carbonates – Metallic Carbonates when heated
yields Metallic oxides and Carbon dioxide gas.
e. Decomposition of Metallic Hydrogen Carbonates or Bicarbonates –
mostly hydrogen carbonates or bicarbonates when heated decompose to from
metallic oxide, water and carbon dioxide.
f. Decomposition of Metallic Hydrogen Carbonates composed of
Group I - Metals - they yield Metallic Carbonates, water and Carbon dioxide.
g. Decomposition of Acids (Oxy Acids) – acid when heated yields non metallic
oxides and water
h. Decomposition of Oxides – Some metal Oxides decompose when heated from
the free metal and oxygen gas.

3. Replacement or Displacement (Substitution) – is a reaction between an element

and a compound wherein the element replaces another element in a compound.
Replacement reaction takes place when the free element is more active than the
combined element. The element may be a metal or a nonmetal. The Electromotive
Series or Activity Series is used to predict the products of replacement reactions.
The activity series is an arrangement of metals in the order of their activity. Hydrogen
is also included in the series even though it is not a metal. In using this series, any
free metal or non metal higher on the list will displace another that is lower in the
series. Also, any metal above hydrogen on the activity series will displace hydrogen in
acids in water.
𝑨 + 𝑩𝑪 → 𝑨𝑪 + 𝑩
 For Non Metals:
F2, Cl2, Br2, I2
Activity Series:
Li, K, Ba, Ca, Na, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni, Sn, Pb, H, Cu, Hg, Ag, Au

4. Double replacement or Metathesis – in this type of reaction, two compounds react

to form two new compounds. There is an interchange of ions or radicals.
𝑨𝑩 + 𝑪𝑫 → 𝑨𝑫 + 𝑪𝑩