Search results
Make simple chemical simulations by your own. Use quantum mechanical calculations online.
- Overview
- Symbols in chemical equations
- Counting atoms using subscripts and coefficients
- Example 1:
- Example 2:
- Example 3:
- Try it: Counting atoms
Learn the meaning behind the symbols we use to represent chemical reactions.
•Reactants are the substances we start with. They are written on the left side of the arrow.
•Products are the substances that are created. They are written on the right side of the arrow.
•The arrow indicates that a chemical change has occurred.
•Coefficients are the larger-sized numbers that come before a chemical formula. They indicate how many separate instances of substance are present in the reaction. In the example above, two separate silver atoms (Ag) are produced (represented by "2Ag ").
•Subscripts are the smaller-sized numbers that come after an element symbol. These indicate there are multiple instances of the same element within a substance. In the example above, two silver atoms (Ag) are present in the silver sulfate compound (AgA2SOA4) .
Chemistry is a universal language used by people around the world. So, we as scientists can communicate with each other about chemistry even if we speak different languages in our day-to-day lives! All we have to do is follow consistent rules when talking about certain scientific concepts.
For example, we can describe the chemical reactions that occur in the physical world using chemical equations. These equations include symbols with specific meanings. The key features of a chemical equation are pointed out here:
•Reactants are the substances we start with. They are written on the left side of the arrow.
•Products are the substances that are created. They are written on the right side of the arrow.
•The arrow indicates that a chemical change has occurred.
•Coefficients are the larger-sized numbers that come before a chemical formula. They indicate how many separate instances of substance are present in the reaction. In the example above, two separate silver atoms (Ag) are produced (represented by "2Ag ").
It is often important to know how many atoms of each element are being shown in an equation. We can use the subscripts and coefficients in the equation to figure this out.
Let’s look at some examples:
How many oxygen atoms are represented in the formula AgNOA3 ?
•3 oxygen atoms
How many oxygen atoms are represented in the formula Mg(NOA3)A2 ?
•6 oxygen atoms
How many oxygen atoms are represented by 3Mg(NOA3)A2 ?
•18 oxygen atoms
Problem 1
How many hydrogen atoms are represented by 3CA2HA4 ?
hydrogen atoms
[Hint 1]
[Hint 2]
[Hint 3]
Enter chemical equation: Submit. Computing... Get this widget. Added Oct 14, 2012 by revolutionize my mind in Chemistry. Calculator designed to balance chemical equations with results of: the balanced equation, word equation, and how it happened. Send feedback | Visit Wolfram|Alpha.
People also ask
What is a chemical equation?
How do you write a chemical reaction?
How do you balance a chemical equation?
What are the key features of a chemical equation?
A chemical equation shows the starting compound(s)—the reactants—on the left and the final compound(s)—the products—on the right, separated by an arrow. In a balanced chemical equation, the numbers of atoms of each element and the total charge are the same on both sides of the equation.
Summary. A chemical reaction is the process by which one or more substances are changed into one or more new substances. Chemical reactions are represented by chemical equations. Chemical equations have reactants on the left, an arrow that is read as "yields", and the products on the right.
Balanced chemical equation - A chemical equation in which the number of each type of atom is equal on the two sides of the equation. Subscripts - Part of the chemical formulas of the reactants and products that indicate the number of atoms of the preceding element.
Use Wolfram|Alpha to find the right coefficients to balance a chemical reaction. Balance a chemical equation: Al + O2 -> Al2O3. hydrochloric acid + calcium hydroxide -> calcium chloride + water. octane + O2 -> water + CO2. Ionic Reactions. Explore salts and the properties of single- and double-displacement reactions involving them.
