CHEMICAL REACTIONS

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Ways of writing a chemical change are through chemical equations

Hydrogen gas reacts with oxygen gas to make water:

H2 (g) + O2 (g)  H2O (l)

g = gas
l = liquid
s = solid
aq = aqueous (dissolved in water)
H2 (G) + O2 (G)  H2O (L)
Reactants are on the left
Things that go into the reaction
(These are the substances that react)

Products are on the right

Things that are produced
(These are the substances that are made)
H2 (G) + O2 (G)  H2O (L)

Reactants are on the left

what goes into the reaction?
H2 (g) and O2 (g) – hydrogen gas and oxygen gas

Products are on the right

what is produced?
H2O (l) – liquid water
OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT SEE…

 indicates ______________
You may see symbols for heat or the use of a catalyst above the arrow
MnO2

Ex: H2O2 (aq)  O2 (g) + H2O (l)

In this case, the catalyst is neither a reactant or product but is used to speed
up a reaction
OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT SEE…

 indicates yields or reacts to make

You may see symbols for heat or the use of a catalyst above the arrow
MnO2

Ex: H2O2 (aq)  O2 (g) + H2O (l)

In this case, the catalyst is neither a reactant or product but is used to speed
up a reaction
THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS

Matter is neither created nor destroyed

Which means…
H2 (g) + O2 (g)  H2O (l)
…Isn’t quite correct
Count the number of oxygen atoms on the reactants side
Count the number of oxygen atoms on the products side
BALANCING EQUATIONS!!!
Four steps to balancing equations:
1. Write the unbalanced equation (don’t forget states of matter)
2. Compound formulas are OFF LIMITS.
3. Make an element inventory of reactants and products
4. Write coefficients in front of the formulas until there are the
same number of each element before and after the reaction.
EXAMPLE

1. Unbalanced Equation: H2 (g) + O2 (g)  H2O (l)

2. Leave compound formulas
(don’t change H2O to H2O2)
3. Element Inventory: H H
O O
4. Add Coefficients
TRY THIS ONE:

___Mg (s) + ___O2 (g)  ___MgO (s)

TRY THIS ONE:

__N2 (g) + __H2 (g)  __NH3 (g)

Identify the reactants and products

Read the reaction in words
Balance the equation