What is a chemical reaction?
A chemical reaction in which a chemical substance Transformed into another chemical substance.during this process the original substance losses its nature and properties and form a new chemical substance.
Characteristics of chemical reaction:
1. Change in the state: the combustion reaction of candle wax is characterized by a change in state from solid to liquid and gas
2. change in color: The chemical reaction between citric acid and purple-colored potassium permanganate solution is characterized by a change in color from purple to colorless.
3. evolution of gas: The chemical reaction between zinc and dilute sulphuric acid is characterized by hydrogen gas.
4. Change in Temperature: Reaction between quicklime and water to form slaked lime characterized by an increase in temperature.
What is the chemical equation?
A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction in the forms of symbols and formulae.
Balanced chemical equation:
A balanced chemical equation occurs when no of the atoms of elements involves in the reactant side is equal to the number of an atom of the element on the product side. In the reaction Mg + O2 → MgO, the number of atoms of each element on either side of the arrow is not equal. Therefore, this is an unbalanced chemical equation. Then what is a balanced equation? Let’s find out below and learn how to balance a chemical equation
Balancing the chemical equation:
1.Identify each element found in the equation. The number of atoms of each type of atom must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.
2.What is the net charge on each side of the equation? The net charge must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.
3.If possible, start with an element found in one compound on each side of the equation. Change the coefficients (the numbers in front of the compound or molecule) so that the number of atoms of the element is the same on each side of the equation. Remember, to balance an equation, you change the coefficients, not the subscripts in the formulas.
4.Once you have balanced one element, do the same thing with another element. Proceed until all elements have been balanced. It's easiest to leave elements found in pure form for last.
6.Check your work to make certain the charge on both sides of the equation is also balanced.