Chemical reaction and equations

The idea of reaction

In chemistry, a reaction happens when two or more elements interact and something
happens. There are few points you should know about chemical reaction.

 A chemical change must occur. You can start with one compound and turns it
into another.
Example: a steel garbage can rusting is a chemical reaction. That rusting
happens because the iron (Fe) in the metal combines with oxygen (O 2) in the
atmosphere.
 A reaction could include ions, molecules, or pure atoms. A reaction can happen
with any of these as long as a chemical change occurs (not a physical one).

Writing chemical equations

 A chemical reaction is written in the form of an equation as given below;

Reactants Products

(What are reacting?) (What will be formed?)

Example

Where A and B reacting to form C.

 A chemical reaction can be written as a word equation or using the chemical

symbols.
Example;
Sodium + water hydrogen + sodium hydroxide
Na + H2O H2 + NaOH

 The number of atoms of the elements should be equal on both sides of the
equation. This procedure is referred to as ‘balancing a chemical equation’.
Example;
Calcium + water hydrogen + Calcium hydroxide
Ca + H2O H2 + Ca(OH)2

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  The state symbols are usually included in a chemical equation.
Example;
Sodium + water hydrogen + sodium hydroxide
Na(s) + H2O(l) H2 (g) + NaOH (aq)

 Transition metals usually contain more than one oxidation state. If such anion is
concerned while naming a compound the oxidation state is written within
brackets as follows.
Example;
Copper(II)sulfate + calcium copper + calcium sulfate
CuSO4(aq) + Ca(s) Cu(s) + CaSO4(aq)

More about balancing

When you have a chemical equation;
1. Draw boxes around all the chemical formulas; this is not necessary but just to
remind you that you are not going to change anything in the formula.
2. Make an element inventory; to figure out how many atoms of each element
you have on the left ( reactants) and right (products) sides of the equation
thus, your element invev

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