Chemical reactions

Wednesday 8th Nov

 Chemical reactions happen all the

time.
They can be shown by a general
equation:

Reactants Products
The same amount of chemicals must
be present on both sides of the
reaction.
The reactants are the chemicals that
react together.
The products are the new chemicals
that are made.

What do the numbers

mean?
SO2
1 sulphur
2 oxygen

MgCO3
1 magnesium
1 carbon
3 oxygen

Identifying atoms
Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

No of
Element
atoms
1

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Sulphur

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium

Carbon

Oxygen

No of
atoms
1

Identifying atoms
No of
Element
atoms

No of
atoms

Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Sulphur

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium

Carbon

Oxygen

Identifying atoms
No of
Element
atoms

No of
atoms

Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Sulphur

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium

Carbon

Oxygen

Identifying atoms
No of
Element
atoms

No of
atoms

Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Sulphur

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium

Carbon

Oxygen

Identifying atoms
No of
Element
atoms

No of
atoms

Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Sulphur

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium
Oxygen

Carbon

Identifying atoms
No of
Element
atoms

No of
atoms

Compound

Element

Salt (NaCl)

Sodium

Chlorine

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon

Oxygen

Water (H2O)

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Methane (CH4)

Carbon

Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide
(H2S)

Hydrogen

Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3)

Calcium

Oxygen

Sulphur
Carbon

Now try these

How many atoms of each element are in
the following molecules?

1. H2SO4
2. Ca(OH)2
3. NaCl
4. (NH3)3P04
5. 3H2O
6. Al2(CO3)3

Representing reactions
When reactions occur the products
are turned into reactants.
This is written as a balanced
equation.
We also might need to be able to
draw this as the molecules, and in
more detail as the atoms involved.

What is balanced in a
chemical equation?
Three things
are balanced
in a chemical
equation:
1. Atoms
2. Mass
3. Charge

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

NaCl

H2

But how do we do it?

Na
1 x Na

HCl

NaCl
1 x Na

H2

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH

2xH

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl

But how do we do it?

Na
1 x Na

HCl

NaCl

H2

1 x Na

1xH
2xH
1 x Cl
1 x Cl
There are 2 H on the right and only 1 on the left this isnt
balanced!

But how do we do it?

Na
1 x Na

HCl

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl
1 x Cl
We need to add more Hydrogen on the left!

2xH

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl

2xH
2xH
Now we need to add a big number 2 in front of Hydrogen, as
we cant change the compound only how many of the
compound there are

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl

2xH
2xH
2 x Cl
1 x Cl
This also means there are now 2 Cl, so we need 2 Cl on the
right! Again we have to add a big number 2.

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl

2xH
2xH
2 x Cl
2 x Cl
This also means there are now 2 Cl, so we need 2 Cl on the
right! Again we have to add a big number 2.

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl
2xH
2 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl
2xH

2 x Cl
1 x Na
2 x Na
This also means there are now 2 Na, so we need 2 Na on the
left! Again we have to add a big number 2.

But how do we do it?

Na

HCl

1 x Na

NaCl

H2

1 x Na
1xH
1 x Cl
2xH
2 x Cl

2xH
1 x Cl
2xH

2 x Cl
2 x Na
2 x Na
This also means there are now 2 Na, so we need 2 Na on the
left! Again we have to add a big number 2.

Na

HCl

NaCl

2Na

2HCl

2NaCl

H2

H2

Balanced or unbalanced?

Remember the rules

and it will work like
magic!
A small number just talks about the
element it is behind. E.g. O2 = 2 x O
Small numbers outside the bracket mean
multiply everything inside the bracket
by that number E.g. (CO3)3 = 3 x C, 9 x
O

Big numbers mean multiply

everything behind by it. E.g. 2 H2O = 4

Try to balance these equations using

the same method:

[1]

Na + Cl2

NaCl

CO2

[2]

CH4 + O2

+ H2O

[3]

Li + HNO3 LiNO3 + H2

[4]

Al + O2

Al2O3

Here are the answers:

[1] 2 Na + Cl2 2 NaCl
[2] CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2
H
[3]
2O2 Li + 2 HNO3 2 LiNO3 + H2
[4] 4 Al + 3 O2 2 Al2O3