Chemical equation — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- A shorthand way of writing a reaction: reactants on the left, an arrow, then products on the right. (Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy)
- A symbolic representation of a reaction: reactant formulas on the left, an arrow, then product formulas on the right. (Physical Science: Chemistry)
Where it is taught
- Balancing Chemical Equations — Chemistry, Physical Science: Matter, Forces & Energy, Grade 8
- Balancing Chemical Equations — Reactions, Moles & Composition, Physical Science: Chemistry, Grade 11
In use
A chemical equation is a kind of shorthand sentence that describes a reaction: the reactants are written on the left, an arrow stands for 'reacts to form,' and the products are written on the right.
Balancing Chemical Equations
A chemical equation is chemistry's sentence structure: the reactants sit on the left, an arrow reads as 'reacts to form,' and the products sit on the right.
Balancing Chemical Equations
Questions using chemical equation
Problem 1
Explain how balancing a chemical equation is a direct application of the law of conservation of mass.
Answer and explanation
Conservation of mass says atoms are only rearranged, never created or destroyed, so the same number of each atom must appear on both sides. Balancing forces the atom counts to match, which guarantees the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.
Taught alongside
- coefficient
- subscript
- balanced equation
- model
- evidence
- system boundary
- assumption
- law of conservation of mass