Chemical Equations

Writing chemical equations The four steps below
show how to balance a simple chemical equation. The atom counting is shown by: C = , H = , O
= x. Step 1: Write down the formulae of all reactants and products: CH4 (g) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)
+ H2O(g) Step 2: Count the number of atoms in each reactant and product: CH4 + O2 → CO2 +
H2O xx xx x Step 3: Balance one of the atoms e.g. hydrogen: CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O xx
xx xx Step 4: Keep balancing, one type of atom at a time until all atoms balance: CH4 + 2O2 →
CO2 + 2H2O xxxx xx xx You can instead just state the number of each type of atom on either
side of the equation if you prefer. The ratio of reactants and products in a balanced equation is
called the stoichiometry of the reaction. In the equation for the combustion of methane above,
the stoichiometry is 1 (methane): 2 (oxygen): 1 (carbon dioxide): 2 (water). Ionic equations Ionic
compounds include salts such as ammonium sulphate and sodium carbonate as well as acids
and alkalis. When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions separate. For example: (NH4 )2
SO4 (aq) → 2NH4+(aq) + SO4 2– (aq) H2 SO4 (aq) → 2H+(aq) + SO4 2– (aq) NaOH(aq) →
Na+(aq) + OH (aq) When ionic compounds react, only some of the ions take part in the reaction.
The ions that play no part in the reaction are called spectator ions. To write an ionic equation:
Step 1: Write the full balanced chemical equation, e.g. Mg(s) + CuSO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) +
Cu(s) Step 2: Write the charges on those substances which are ionic: Mg(s) + Cu 2+(aq) SO4
2– (aq) → Mg2+(aq) SO4 2– (aq) + Cu(s) Step 3: Cancel the spectator ions: Mg(s) + Cu 2+ 4
(aq) → Mg2+ 4 (aq) + Cu(s) Step 4: The ionic equation is that which remains: Mg(s) + Cu 2+(aq)
→ Mg2+(aq) + Cu(s) Learning outcomes On completon of ths secton, you should be able to:
dene the terms ‘mole’ and ‘molar mass’ construct molecular and onc equatons. The mole
concept 3.1 Equations and moles 3 Exam tips When balancng equatons: Neer alter the formula
of a compound. Balance by puttng numbers at the front of a formula. The rst atom balanced
should be the one whch s easest to balance n combuston reactons. Oxygen s often easest to
balance last. Numbers n front multply all the way through the atoms n the formula. 35 Chapter
3 Exam tips For precptaton reactons t s often easer to wrte an onc equaton from the ons makng
up the precptate. For example, when aqueous lead ntrate s added to aqueous sodum chlorde,
lead chlorde s precptated. The ons whch take part n the reacton are Pb2+ and Cl , so the
equaton s: Pb2+ (aq) + 2Cl (aq) → PbCl2 (s) State symbols State symbols are often added to
equations to show the physical state of the reactants and products. These are placed after the
formula of each reactant and product: (s) solid (l) liquid (g) gas (aq) aqueous (a solution in
water) The mole and molar mass The relative atomic mass or relative molecular mass of a
substance in grams is called a mole of that substance (abbreviation mol). We use the 12C scale
as a standard in comparing masses accurately, so: One mole is the amount of substance which
has the same number of specific particles (atoms, ions or molecules) as there are atoms in
exactly 12g of the 12C isotope. The molar mass, M, is the mass of one mole of specied
substance in grams. So the term ‘molar mass’ can apply to ionic compounds as well as
molecules. For molecules we use the term ‘relative molecular mass’. The units of M are gmol–1
The molar mass of a compound such as sodium sulphate, Na 2 SO4 , is calculated by adding
the relative atomic masses together taking into account the number of each type of atom: Ar
values: Na = 23, S = 32; O =16 2Na 1S 4O M = (2 × 23) + 32 + (4 × 16) = 142gmol–1 Exam tips
Accurate relate atomc masses are gen n the Perodc Table to four sgncant gures, e.g. Ar [Na] =
22.99. You wll often be gen a rounded-up alue for use n calculatons, e.g. Ar [Na] = 23. Use ths
alue when dong mole calculatons. In dong smple calculatons at ths leel n chemstry we take
these ‘rounded-up’ alues as beng accurate enough to gnore any problems wth sgncant gures
(see Secton 3.5).

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Writing chemical equations The four steps below

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