Writing Chemical

Equations

Chapter 7b
 Chemical Equations
• Chemical equation is a way of representing a
chemical reaction.
• It shows the starting substances (reactants) and
the new substances formed (products).
• There are 2 types of equations:
– Word equation: uses words
– Chemical equation: uses symbols and formulae

reactant + reactant  product(s)

 Chemical Equations
• Chemical equations have the same number of
atoms of each element on both sides of the
equation.
– No atoms are created or destroyed during a reaction.
They are only rearranged.
– Therefore, the number of atoms on both sides of the
equation must be equal.
 Chemical Equations
• Sometimes, state symbols are shown. There are
4 state symbols:
– solid (s)
– liquid (l)
– gas (g)
– aqueous (aq)

dissolved
 Reacting Hydrogen and Oxygen
Step 1: Write the word equation

hydrogen + oxygen  water

Step 2: Write the chemical equation

H2 + O2  H2O
 Reacting Hydrogen and Oxygen
Step 3: Check if the equation is balanced.
H2 + O2  H2O H2 + O2  2H2O

H–2 H–2 H–2 H–4

O–2 O–1 O–2 O–2

2H2 + O2  2H2O

H–4 H–4
O–2 O–2
 Reaction between Magnesium
and Oxygen
Step 1: Write the word equation
magnesium + oxygen  magnesium oxide

Step 2: Write the chemical equation

Mg + O2  MgO
 Reaction between Magnesium
and Oxygen
Step 3: Check if the equation is balanced.
Mg + O2  MgO Mg + O2  2MgO

Mg – 1 Mg – 1 Mg – 1 Mg – 2
O–2 O–1 O–2 O–2

2Mg + O2  2MgO

Mg – 2 Mg – 2
O–2 O–2
 Burning Methane in Oxygen
Step 1:
methane + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water

Step 2:
CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O
 Burning Methane in Oxygen
Step 3:
CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O CH4 + O2  CO2 + 2H2O

C–1 C–1 C–1 C–1

H–4 H–2 H–4 H–4
O-2 O-3 O-2 O-4

CH4 + 2O2  CO2 + 2H2O

C–1 C–1
H–4 H–4
O-4 O-4
 Exercises
Add numbers (if necessary to balance each
equation.

• SO2 + O2  SO3

• N2 + H2  NH3

• CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O

 Exercises
Write the balanced chemical equation for the
following reactions:

sodium + chlorine  sodium chloride

 Exercises
Write the balanced chemical equation for the
following reactions:

magnesium + water  magnesium hydroxide +

hydrogen