|
|
|
|
Word EquationsThe first of the three types of equations are word equations. (These examples
are also shown in ex. 1 and 2. in your workbook.) The first example deals with water being
electrolyzed and becoming hydrogen and oxygen. One way of representing that reaction is to
use the word equation, "water We use an arrow to show which way the reaction is going. The arrow is usually read as "becomes" or "yields." The "+" sign is read as "and." The water is changing into hydrogen and oxygen. Sometimes you will see an equal sign instead of an arrow. I prefer arrows, usually, because that emphasizes that a reaction is proceeding in a particular direction. Some people like to use equal signs to emphasize the idea that this is a chemical equation and that matter is conserved. The mass of water that reacts is equal to the mass of hydrogen and oxygen that is formed. So whichever you see is simply a matter of emphasis. This second example shows the word equation for magnesium reacting with oxygen to
become magnesium oxide: "magnesium + oxygen
E-mail instructor: Eden Francis Clackamas Community College |
hydrogen + oxygen," which is read as "water
becomes hydrogen and oxygen."