CHEMICAL EQUATION

CHEMICAL EQUATION
Def : shorthand of description of a
chemical reaction.
Arrow which way reaction occur
Starting substance reactants
New substance produced
product
Showing the state of each
substance liquid, gas, aqueous,
solid..

THE STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING

CHEMICAL EQUATION
Write

the correct formula of the

reactants on the left of equation
Write the correct formula of the
product on the right of equation
Balance the equation by making
sure the number of each element
on the left and on the right of the
equation is the same.

THE STEPS INVOLVED IN WRITING

CHEMICAL EQUATION
When

balancing equation, never

alter the formula of the
compounds
Write the physical state of
reactants and products as
follows:
(s) solid
(l) - liquid
(g) gas
(aq) - aqueous

Eg: write a balanced equation of

combustion of ethanol in air
When

ethanol is burned in the

air, it reacts with oxygen to form
carbon dioxide and water.
Reactants : ethanol (C2H5OH) and
oxygen (O2)
Products

: Carbon dioxide (CO2)

and water (H2O)

Continue.
Step

1: write formula of reactants

and products
C2H5OH + O2 CO2 + H2O

> This equation is not in balanced

because the number of carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen atoms on the
left is not same as in the right.

Continue.
Step

2 : The equation can be

balanced by writing 2 in front of
CO2, writing 3 in front of H2O
and writing 3 in front of O2.
C2H5OH + 3O2 2CO2 + 3H2O

Continue..
Step

3 : Write the physical state of

reactants and products
C2H5OH (l) + 3O2 (g) 2CO2 (g) + 3H2O (l)

Exercise
Text

book..