How to write word equations (IGCSE)
Core
•• Construct word equations and simple balanced chemical equations
Word Equations
A word equation represents a chemical reaction using the names of the reactants and products. Write the names of reactant(s) before the arrows and product(s) after the arrow.
E.g. 1:
Sodium is heated with chlorine to form sodium chloride.
Word equation: sodium + chlorine → sodium chloride
E.g. 2: calcium carbonate decomposes thermally to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.
Calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
E.g. 3: sodium hydroxide neutralises sulfuric acid to form sodium sulfate and water.
sodium hydroxide + sulfuric acid → sodium sulfate + water
E.g. 4: When sodium is added to water, there is bubbles of hydrogen gas observed. Resultant solution is sodium hydroxide.
Sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen