Word Equations Word Equations These describe a chemical

Word Equations

Word Equations These describe a chemical reaction using words rather than elemental symbols and chemical formula. For example Sodium Chloride rather than Na. Cl Or in a word equation Sodium(s) + chlorine(g) Sodium Chloride

Word equations They are useful as they allow chemists to communicate what happens in a chemical reaction. The most important parts of a word equation are a description of the reactants (which react) and the products (which are produced). They have the basic structure of Reactant + Reactant…. Product + Product… The reactants are always on the left and the products on the right.

Reaction 1 - Sugar and concentrated sulfuric acid In the reaction the sugar is mixed with the sulfuric acid and it quickly reacts producing a black solid and a liquid which after a short time boils to make a gas. There is a sharp rise in temperature • The reactants are sugar and sulfuric acid • The products are carbon and water Word equation sugar + sulfuric acid carbon + water This is an exothermic reaction which produces heat and can be written as sugar + sulfuric acid carbon + water + heat

Reaction 2 - Vinegar and Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate • In this reaction the sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to the vinegar. There is a fast reaction and a gas carbon dioxide is produced. Water is also produced and dissolved in the water is sodium ions and ethanoate ions. Vinegar (ethanoic acid) + Bicarb soda ( Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) Carbon dioxide + Water + Sodium ions and Ethanoate ions This reaction is endothermic and heat energy is absorbed Heat energy + Vinegar + Bicarb soda Carbon dioxide + Water + sodium ions and ethanoate ions