Reactants

- the substances that react during a chemical reaction

Products
- the substances that are produced in the chemical
reaction
H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2, and At2
Word equation:
Aluminum combines with ferric oxide to form
iron and aluminum oxide.
Chemical equation:

Al + Fe2O3 → Fe + Al2O3
45
❑ Reactants are separated from products by an
arrow.

Al + Fe2O3 → Fe + Al2O3
❑ Coefficients are placed in front of substances
to balance the equation.

2 Al + Fe2O3 → 2 Fe + Al2O3
Subscripts 46
The following symbols can be used after the
chemical formulas to indicate the state of
each of the reactants and products in a
chemical reaction:
- called a yield sign, means “produces” or “yields”.

+
- means “and”, “add”, or “reacts with”
 Symbols Used in Chemical Equations
Symbol Explanation

+ Separates two reactants or two products

→ “Yields,” separates reactants from products

Use in place of → for reversible reactions

Designates a reactant or product in the solid state, liquid
(s), (l), (g) state, or gaseous state; placed after the formula
Designates an aqueous solution; the substance is dissolved
(aq) in water; placed after the formula
Δ
Indicates that heat is supplied to the reaction
heat

A formula written above or below the yields sign indicates its

Pt
use as a catalyst (in this example, platinum).
❑ Reaction conditions are placed over the arrow.


Al + Fe2O3 → Fe + Al2O3
heat
❑ The physical state of the substances are
indicated by the symbols (s), (l), (g), (aq).


2 Al (s) + Fe2O3 (s) → 2 Fe (l) + Al2O3 (s)
solid liquid 50
❑ A balanced equation contains the same
number of atoms on each side of the
equation, and therefore obeys the law of
conservation of mass.
❑ Many equations are balanced by trial and
error; but it must be remembered that
coefficients can be changed in order to
balance an equation, but not subscripts of
a correct formula.
52
❑ The general procedure for balancing
equations is:
Write the unbalanced equation:

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Make sure the
formula for each
substance is
correct 57
❑ The general procedure for balancing equations is:

Balance by inspection:

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Count and
compare each 1C = 1C
element on both 4H 2H
sides of the
equation 2O 3O
58
❑ Balance elements that appear only in one
substance first.

Balance H 4 H present
on each side

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

1 CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

59
 Balance O

When finally done, check for the

smallest coefficients possible 4 O present
on each side
1 CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

1 CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O

60
 2 AgNO H22SS →
AgNO33 ++ H → Ag
Ag22SS ++ 2HNO
HNO
3 3

2 Al(OH)3 3++3 H2SO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 6H2H

Al(OH) O2O

FeFe
3O
3O
4 4+ +
4HH22 →
→ 3Fe
Fe ++ H42H
O2O

2 C4CH410
H10+ + O22 →
13 O → 8CO
CO
2 2+ + H10
2OH2O
62