Final answer:
In chemistry, compounds are substances consisting of atoms from different elements bonded together, such as water (H₂O). Chemical reactions are represented by equations showing reactants turning into products, exemplified by 2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O. Understanding the formation and breakdown of compounds through dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis is fundamental to the study of chemical reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In chemistry, a compound is a substance made up of two or more different elements bonded together in a fixed proportion. Water (H₂O) is a compound composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. To describe the process of compounds forming or breaking apart, scientists use chemical equations. For example, when hydrogen gas (H₂) reacts with oxygen gas (O₂), water is formed as a product through the equation 2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O.
Chemical reactions involve reactants, the starting materials written on the left of the equation, and products, the compounds formed during the reaction, which appear on the right. An arrow separates these two sides, pointing from reactants to products, representing the direction of the reaction.
Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis are two types of chemical reactions that involve water. In dehydration synthesis, a water molecule is produced as a byproduct while in hydrolysis water is consumed to break down compounds. Balancing chemical equations is vital as it adheres to the law of conservation of matter.