What Is a Chemical Equation? Definition and Examples

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, showing the reactants and products involved.

Reactants are the substances that undergo change during a chemical reaction, appearing on the left side of the equation.

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, appearing on the right side of the equation.

A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of atoms for each element on both sides of the equation, obeying the law of conservation of mass.

Yes, an example is: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O, which represents the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water.

Coefficients indicate the number of molecules or moles of each reactant and product involved in the reaction.

To balance a chemical equation, adjust coefficients to ensure that there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides.

An unbalanced chemical equation does not have an equal number of atoms for each element on both sides, which means it does not obey conservation of mass.

Chemical equations can represent various types of reactions, including synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and combustion.

Chemical equations are important as they provide a clear representation of what occurs during a reaction and help in understanding stoichiometry and reaction mechanisms.