Reactants are substances that interact in a chemical reaction and are written on the left side of the equation. Products are substances formed by the reaction and are written on the right side. Common symbols are used to represent elements and compounds in chemical equations. Guidelines for writing balanced chemical equations include: writing correct formulas, starting with the most abundant element, balancing polyatomic ions, balancing hydrogen and oxygen atoms, using the lowest whole number coefficients, and checking each atom is balanced.
3. REACTANTS: SUBSTANCE THAT
INTERACTS WITH ONE ANOTHER IN A
CHEMICAL REACTION, THEY ARE WRITTEN
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF A CHEMICAL
EQUATION.
PRODUCTS: SUBSTANCE FORMED BY A
CHEMICAL REACTION, THEY ARE WRITTEN
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF A CHEMICAL
EQUATION.
6. These guidelines are summarized as follows:
Guidelines #1- write the correct formula
Guideline #2-start with a specific element in a
compound with the most atoms.
Guidelines#3 –balance the polyatomic ions.
Guidelines#4-balance the H atoms and then O atoms
.
Guideline#5- checks the coefficients to see that they
are whole
numbers and are in the lowest possible ratio.
Guideline#6- check off each atom or polyatomic ion
with a check.
