Question

List the steps to write a chemical equation.

Answer 1

Following are different steps of writing a chemical equation:

Step 1: Identify the type of reactant and product.

• Write a word equation, $\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}+\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{gas}\to \mathrm{water}$

Step 2: Write the chemical formula for each of the reactants and products

• ${\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)⟶{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

Step 3: Count the number of each type of atom in reactants and products

• ${\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)⟶{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$
• LHS: H=2; O=2;
• RHS: H =2; O=1

Step 4: Balance the equation:

• Compare the number of each type of atom on both sides (reactants and products) and try to balance the reaction by placing appropriate coefficients in front of the reactants and products.
• $2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)⟶2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

Step 5: Check whether the reaction is balanced or not $(\mathrm{Atoms}\mathrm{on}\mathrm{LHS}=\mathrm{Atoms}\mathrm{on}\mathrm{RHS})$

• $2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)⟶2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$
  LHS: H=4 O=2;
• RHS: H =4; O=2