In: Chemistry
A chemical equation is an expression that uses chemical formulas and other symbols to illustrate what ________ constitute the starting materials in a reaction and what ________ are formed.
A chemical equation is an expression that uses chemical formulas and other symbols to illustrate what reactants constitute the starting materials in a reaction and what products are formed.
During a chemical reaction breaking of bonds take place in the starting materials, called reactants and new bonds are formed during formation of products.
For example, A chemical equation of acid base reaction of type can be depicted as:
HCl + NaOH = NaCl + H2O
Here Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is the reactant and Sodium chloride (NaCl) and Water (H2O) are products.
Bonds between Hydrogen and Chlorine in HCl and Sodium and Oxygen in NaOH is broken and form ions.
HCl = H+ + Cl-
NaOH = Na+ + OH-
Now, new bonds are fromed netween Sodium ion (Na+) and Chloride ion (Cl-) to form sodium chloride (NaCl) and Hydrogen (H+) and hydroxide (OH-) ion to from water (H2O) as products.
Na+ + Cl- = NaCl
H+ + OH- = H2O