Forming New Substances Chapter 9-2 Part 3

Describing Reactions Using Equations A chemical equation uses chemical symbols and formulas as a short way to describe a chemical reaction. Example: C + O2= CO2

From Reactants to Products The starting materials in a chemical reaction are reactants. The materials that are formed from the reaction are products. + 

The Importance of Accuracy The symbol or formula for each substance must be written correctly. Even a simple mistake can make a huge difference! Example: CO is carbon monoxide and CO2 is carbon dioxide.

An Equation Must Be Balanced Atoms are never lost or created, they are just rearranged. In a chemical reaction, every atom in the reactant becomes part of the products.

Why Equations Must Be Balanced The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in chemical or physical changes.

STOP HERE Get out your Study Guide B workbooks and do pages 103 -106.