Final answer:
Reactants are substances at the start of a reaction and products are formed as the result. Such as nitrogen and hydrogen as reactants forming ammonia as a product in a synthesis reaction. Balancing the equation is crucial.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify the reactants and the products in a chemical reaction, one must look at the substances that are used at the beginning and the substances that are the result of the reaction. In the chemistry language, the substances that start the reaction are known as the reactants or the chemical precursors, while the substances formed as a result of the reaction are known as products.
In the cases outlined, nitrogen and hydrogen would be the reactants that come together to produce ammonia, which is the product. If the problem mentions factors like the production of a gas or a precipitate, these help determine the direction of the reaction and the resulting products. For example, combining zinc and sulfur results in the synthesis reaction to form zinc sulfide. This can be categorized as a synthesis reaction because simpler substances combine to form a more complex compound.
When writing a chemical equation, it is essential to balance it properly. This may involve the use of atomic numbers (often referred to as Z) and other values to ensure that the same number of atoms of each element is present on both sides of the reaction, thereby satisfying the Law of Conservation of Mass.