Scientific Tutor
Chem – Definition and Layout of a Chemical Equation
Author: Andrew
How are chemical equations organized?
Chemical equations are a series of elements or compounds that when added together under the right conditions cause a chemical reaction to happen and produce a new arrangement of elements or compounds. Those elements do not change, but their bonds to other elements can.
Examples:
H2 + O2 —-> H2O
NaCl + MgBr2 —-> NaBr + MgCl2
The chemical equations also break down into a few different parts that are labeled. On the left side of the arrow sign are the reactants. On the right side of the arrow sign are the products. The arrow sign is called the yield. THE REACTANTS ARE ALWAYS ON THE LEFT SIDE UNLESS YOU ARE TOLD OTHERWISE! THE PRODUCTS ARE ALWAYS ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNLESS YOU ARE TOLD OTHERWISE!
Example:
| Reactants | Yield | Products |
| C6H12O6 + O2 | —-> | CO2 + H2O |
Posted in Chemistry
