This example illustrates the fundamental aspects of any chemical equation: The chemical equation representing this process is provided in the upper half of Figure 7.2, with space-filling molecular models shown in the lower half of the figure.įigure 7.2 The reaction between methane and oxygen to yield carbon dioxide and water (shown at bottom) may be represented by a chemical equation using formulas (top). Consider as an example the reaction between one methane molecule (CH 4) and two diatomic oxygen molecules (O 2) to produce one carbon dioxide molecule (CO 2) and two water molecules (H 2O). Extending this symbolism to represent both the identities and the relative quantities of substances undergoing a chemical (or physical) change involves writing and balancing a chemical equation. When atoms gain or lose electrons to yield ions, or combine with other atoms to form molecules, their symbols are modified or combined to generate chemical formulas that appropriately represent these species. The preceding chapter introduced the use of element symbols to represent individual atoms.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |