Chemical equations, are one of the most important technique in the study of chemistry.it is also called the language of chemistry. Chemical equations are very crucial to understanding how atoms, molecules and compounds react with each other during a chemical reaction.
Chemical equations communicates the identity of the reactants and products in a chemical reaction as well as their molecular proportions. With the aid of chemical equations, scientists are able to study and understand how different elements and compounds react with each other.
Written in this article are the significance, features, and nuances of chemical equations which serves as a very important rudiment in the field of Chemistry.
Features and characteristics of a Chemical Equation
Reactants and Products:
Reactants are the chemical substances or compounds that are reacting with each other while products are the substances that occur after the reaction has taken place.
Coefficients:
Cofficients are the Numbers in front of each chemical symbols or formulas, they indicate the relative proportion of each reactants and products.
The sum of the coefficient of reactants must be equal to the sum of the coefficients of the products in order to obey the law of conservation of mass.
Chemical Formulas:
These are symbols or combination of symbols that represents an element of compound.
Examples of symbols includes H for hydrogen, O for oxygen, NaCl for sodium chloride and H2O for water.
The subscripts in Chemical formula indicates the number of atoms possessed by each element.
Arrow Symbol (→):
The arrows in chemical equations indictes the direction of the chemical reaction which can either be forward, backward or reversible.
How to Balance Chemical Equations
While writing chemical equations, it is crucial to ensure that the number of molecules of each element or compound on the reactant side is equal to that on the product side. This is to ensured that it is in accordance with the law of conservation of mass which states that matter can neither created nor destroyed. Chemical equations are a representation of the physical reaction so it is very important that it corresponds to quantities in the physical reaction.
Types of Chemical Equations
Synthesis Reactions:
When two or more compounds or elements combine to form a product that is complex in structure, it is called synthesis; a common example of this type of reaction is when Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water as a product.
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
The molecular structure of water is more complex and the individual reactants (oxygen and hydrogen)
Decomposition Reactions
Decomposition Reactions occur when a complex compound is broken down into constituents that are simpler in structure. A typical example is the breakdown of water into Hydrogen and Oxygen which are the constituents of water molecules.
2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂
Single Displacement Reactions:
A single displacement reaction is one in which an element disposes another element from a chemical compound. An example of this reaction is the displacement of Hydrogen from Hydrochloric acid by Zinc.
Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂
Double Displacement Reactions:
While single displacement involves one element disposing another, double displacement reactions involving the exchange of ions between two chemical compounds below is a typical example.
2NaCl + Pb(NO₃)₂ → 2NaNO₃ + PbCl₂
Combustion Reactions:
Combustion reaction occurs when a compound reacts with oxygen to release energy into the surrounding in the form of heat and light. The chemical equation below is a depiction of a typical example of a combustion reaction.
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O
Applications of Chemical Equations
The application of chemical equations is as vast as the application of chemistry, anything that involves chemical reactions needs an equivalent equation to represent the reactions. Chemical Equations are used in many ways starting from the little experiments in labs to the manufacturing of drugs and production of industrial materials. Even in Engineering fields, engineers still make use of chemical equations for a vast range of Applications.
Educational Significance of Chemical Equations
As discussed earlier, chemical equations are a representation of the real life reaction. In order for students to understand chemistry, it is vital that they are taught how to write and balance chemical equations as it bolsters their understanding of how chemical reactions occur.
Conclusion
Chemical Equations are one of the basic foundations of chemistry as a field of study. These equations are not just numerical representations of reactions, they also tell a story of how the reaction occurred. As a scientist or chemistry student, you must be able to interpret and balance chemical equations for you to fully understand the basic factors and principles guiding chemical equations.
Chemical Equations have so far been as Relevant as Chemistry as a field of study and have enjoyed a wide variety of applications. Written so far in this article is some guide about what chemical equations are, its component's, basic applications as well as some types of chemical equations to spice up your journey through the world of Chemistry.
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