Subject: Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
Chemical Reactions and Equations The LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER, says
Recognizing Chemical Reactions
 A CHEMICAL REACTION is a process in
which one or more substances are changed into
new* substances.
 “New” simply means substance that were not
there before the reaction!
Chemical Equations
 A chemical reaction cannot be seen; it occurs
on the SUBMICROSCOPIC LEVEL!
 Since reactions can’t be seen, we use a
CHEMICAL EQUATION to represent a
CHEMICAL REACTION.
 A CHEMICAL EQUATION is a WRITTEN
EXPRESSION that illustrates what happens
during a chemical reaction.
All CHEMICAL EQUATIONS have THREE BASIC
PARTS:
Type of Equations
• FORMULA EQUATIONS are written using
the chemical symbols and formulas for
substances.
• EXAMPLE: Mg(S) + S(s)  MgS (s)
• WORD EQUATIONS are written using the
names of the elements and compounds
involved.
• EXAMPLE
Potassium + Oxygen  Potassium Oxide
4 K(s) + 1O2 (g)  2K2O
Equations MUST be BALANCED!
Since a chemical equation illustrates what happens to
atoms on the SUBMICROSCOPIC level, it must
show exactly what happens to ALL ATOM
INVOLVED!
MATTER CANNOT BE MADE OR DESTROYED.
 Because of this law, we must write
BALANCED equations: equations that have the
SAME NUMBER of EACH ATOM on BOTH
SIDES of the equation.
F2 , Cl2 , O2 , H2 , N2 , I2 , Br2
Consider this equation:
        2Na     +     Cl2        2NaCl
Are there the SAME NUMBER of SODIUM and
CHLORINE atoms on BOTH SIDES of the equation?
Balancing an Equation
• Balancing an equation is easy.
• We can only add numbers BEFORE the
formulas to adjust the number of atoms on
each side….we CANNOT change subscripts!
• These “numbers” are called
COEFFICIENTS
• Coefficients MULTIPLY the number of each
kind of atom in a formula!
Let’s balance our equations now:
Na + Cl2  NaCl
1. Count the number of EACH atom on both sides:
• There is 1 Na atom and 2 Cl atoms on the
left side.
• There is 1 Na atoms and 1 Cl atom on the
right side.
2. Start with the first unbalanced atom and try
adding a coefficient to balance it.
3. Continue adding coefficients as needed until all
atoms are balanced in number on both sides.
How do you know when a chemical reaction has
occurred?
• There are several factors that identify a
chemical reaction:
• ENERGY is given off as HEAT or
LIGHT, such as burning, or an explosion.
• A GAS is formed.
• A PRECIPITATE forms [a solid that
settles to the bottom].
• A change in COLOR or ODOR may
indicate a reaction, but not always [can be
physical].