CHEMICAL EQUATIONS

WRITING AND BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS.

1. A chemical equation represents a chemical reaction. It is used as the easiest way of

showing reactants and products, and their ratios.
2. When writing chemical equations,
(a) the formulae of the reactants are written on the left.
(b) the formulae of the products are written on the right.
(c) An arrow, → is used. It means 'form'.
(d) the number of atoms of each element is exactly the same on both sides
of a balanced equation.
(e) state symbols are included in the equation to show the states of the
substances. The state symbols are
(s) for solid; (l) for liquid;
(g) for gas and (aq) for aqueous solution (solution in water)

3. The four steps in writing a chemical equation

1 Write a word equation. Magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid forming
hydrogen gas and an aqueous solution of magnesium
chloride.
Magnesium + hydrochloric acid →
magnesium chloride + hydrogen
2 Write the equation Mg + HCl → MgC12 + H2
using symbols.
3 Balance the equation. Remember, balance the elements the last. In this case,
(Formulae of both Mg and H2 are elements. Therefore, we need to
reactants and balance Cl first.
products are not to be
altered.) Cl: there is one on the left hand side (LHS), two on the
right hand side (RHS). We need to add 2 in front of HCl.

Mg: 1 on LHS, 1 on RHS. Balanced.

H: Now there’s 2 on LHS (added the number 2 in front)

and 2 on RHS.

Balanced equation is:

Mg + 2 HCl → MgCl2 + H2

4 Add the state symbols Mg (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
 WRITING IONIC EQUATIONS.

1. An ionic equation shows only those ions which actually react. If it is required to write
an ionic equation for the reaction that takes place when aqueous barium nitrate reacts
with aqueous sodium sulphate, a white precipitate of barium sulphate is formed. The
steps to be followed are

(a) Write down the chemical equation for the reaction and balance it.
Ba(NO3)2 (aq) + Na2SO4 (aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2 NaNO3 (aq)

Since barium nitrate, sodium sulphate and sodium nitrate are ionic compounds, they exist
in the form of ions in solution. Barium sulphate, however, is insoluble and does not exist
as ions

(b) Replace the compounds with the appropriate ions. Thus barium nitrate in solution must
be replaced by barium and nitrate ions, the sodium sulphate by sodium and sulphate ions
and the sodium nitrate by sodium and nitrate ions. This method is used for all the ionic
compounds in solution.
The equation in (a) will now read as shown below
Ba2+ (aq) + 2 NO 3− (aq) + 2 Na+ (aq) + SO 24 − (aq) → BaSO4 (s) + 2 Na+ (aq) + 2 NO 3−
(aq)
(c) You will note that the nitrate ion, NO 3− and the sodium ion, Na+ do not take part in the
reaction. Such ions, known as the spectator ions, are removed to give the ionic equation
Ba2+ (aq) + SO 24 − (aq) → BaSO4 (s)

(d) The ionic equation actually indicates the reacting ionic species. In the full equation it is
not at all clear that this is the case.

Note: In an ionic equation, both the atoms and charge are conserved. In the ionic equation
above it can be seen that there is a net charge of zero. Therefore charge is conserved.