Chemical Equations

Chemistry
Mrs. Coyle

Chemical Equations:
represent chemical reactions
Word Equations
Skeleton Chemical Equations
Balanced Chemical Equations

Word Equations: show the names of

the reactants and the products
Reactants

Products

Methane + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide + Water

The arrow (yield sign) and indicates that a

reaction took place.

Skeleton Chemical Equations

The formulas of the reactants and
products are written without indicating
their relative amounts.
Example:

CH4+ O2 CO2 +H2O

Balanced Chemical Equations

The chemical formulas and the relative

amounts of the reactants and products are

written.
Example:

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O

The coefficients indicate the relative amounts of

each substance.
Equal number of atoms of each element must
appear on both sides of the balanced equation.

Why does a chemical reaction have to

be balanced?
In any chemical or physical

change, mass is neither created or

destroyed

Mass is CONSTANT
Law of Conservation of Mass

(Antoine Lavoisier)

Combustion of Methane
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 +

Atoms are rearranged!

2H2O

Example: Decomposition of hydrogen

peroxide in the presence of a catalyst.
Word equation:

hydrogen peroxide water + oxygen

Example: Decomposition of hydrogen

peroxide in the presence of a catalyst.
Skeleton equation:

H2O2

H 2O

O2

Example: Decomposition of hydrogen

peroxide in the presence of a catalyst.
Balanced Equation:

2H2O2

2H2O

O2

Example: Decomposition of hydrogen

peroxide in the presence of a catalyst.
Balanced equation showing
the catalyst (MnO2)
the state of the reactants and products:

MnO2

2H2O2(l)
(g)

2H2O (l)

O2