Word Equations to Molecular Equations
This is a quick guide to turning Word Equations to Molecular Equations which frequently pops up in quizzes and tests. This is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation but just a quick revision guide for how to do it!
Here are the general steps: 1) Figure out what's on the left and what's on the right, and what are compounds and what aren't compounds. Sometimes you may have to finish the equation, in which you just have to figure out what kind of equation it is and predict the products.
2) Are they compounds or elements? 3) If
Elements: Are they diatomic? These elements are diatomic, which means they exist naturally bonded together as a pair:
H2 N2 F2 O2 I2 Cl2 Br2
Here's a handy mnemonic: "Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer"
Compounds: If Ionic: Balance the charges by using the "cross charges" method
If Covalent: Either write down the memorized formula or try and balance out the charges to figure out the formula.
4) Write everything down and balance the equation It's actually very easy! Examples:
Potassium Hydroxide + Sulphuric Acid -> Potassium Sulphate + Water
Let's work through it step by step.
1) As we can see, step 1 is done because we're given the equation. This is a neutralization reaction.
2) Identify the compounds - we'll let you try that yourself!
3) Let's write down the symbol of each of the compound:
Potassium Hydroxide: Ionic Compound Use the cross charges method to figure out the formula:
K+ OH-
Formula: KOH
Sulphuric Acid: Covalent Compound
This you just have to remember:
Formula: H2SO4
Potassium Sulphate: Ionic Compound
K+ SO4 2-
Formula: K2SO4 Water: Common sense!!!
Formula: H2O
4) Fill everything in! KOH + H2SO4 -> K2SO4 + H2O
5) Balance:
2 KOH + H2SO4 -> K2SO4 + 2 H2O
BAM! You're done!
