Final answer:
The 'L' in a chemical equation stands for the liquid state of a substance. Phase labels like (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, (g) for gas, and (aq) for aqueous are used to indicate the physical states of substances in chemical reactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When examining chemical reactions, especially in written or visual formats such as educational software or textbooks, you might notice that chemical substances in the reactions are often followed by a letter in parentheses. This letter indicates the physical state of the substance. The 'L' you are referring to stands for liquid. Chemical equations may include phase labels such as (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, (g) for gas, and (aq) for aqueous which means the substance is dissolved in water. For instance, in the chemical equation for the decomposition of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), you might see something like this: 2 NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l). Here, the (l) following H2O indicates that water is in the liquid state in this chemical reaction.