Final answer:
To write a chemical equation, identify the reactants and products, write their chemical formulas, and then balance the equation by adding coefficients. Atoms are conserved in the reaction, so the number of atoms for each element must be equal on both sides of the equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Writing Chemical Equations
When writing a chemical equation, the process can be broken down into clear steps. In a chemical reaction, reactants are transformed into products. The general form of a chemical equation can be expressed as Reactants → Products. The steps for writing a balanced chemical equation are as follows
For example:
Unbalanced Reaction: H2 + O2 → H2O
Balanced Reaction: 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
In this balanced reaction, the coefficient '2' before H2 and H2O ensures that there are 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.