Part-4 - Making A Chemical Equation More Informative

Making A Chemical Equation More Informative
The chemical equations can be made more informative in three ways :

1. By indicating the “physical states” of the reactants and products.
2. By indicating the “heat changes” taking place in the reaction.
3. By indicating the “conditions” under which the reaction takes place.
1. To Indicate the Physical States of Reactants and Products

in an Equation
➔ The physical states of the reactants and products can be represented
by using the symbols (s) for solid, (l) for liquid, (g) for gas and (aq) for
aqueous solution, alongwith their respective formulae. The word
aqueous (aq) is written if the reactant or product is present as a
solution in water.
Example:
Zn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + H2 (g)
➔ In some cases an insoluble product (called precipitate) is formed by
the reaction between solutions of reactants (or a solution and a gas).
Since the insoluble product (or precipitate) is a solid substance, its
physical state is indicated in the equation by the symbol (s).
Precipitate can also be represented by using an arrow pointing
downwards (↓) instead of using symbol (s).The abbreviation ‘ppt’ is
also used to represent the precipitate if formed.
Example:
Ca(OH)2(aq)+ CO2(g)→ CaCO3(↓) or CaCO3(ppt.)+H2O(l)
➔ Sometimes a gas if evolved in a reaction is shown by the symbol (↑)
i.e., by an arrow pointing upwards.
Example:
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)→2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) or H2↑
2. To Indicate the Heat Changes in an Equation

There are two types of reactions on the basis of heat changes involved :
exothermic reactions and endothermic reactions.
(i) Those reactions in which heat is evolved are known as exothermic reactions.
For example, when carbon burns in oxygen to form carbon dioxide, a lot of
heat is produced in this reaction :
The burning of carbon in oxygen is an exothermic reaction because heat is

evolved in this reaction.
An exothermic reaction is indicated by writing “+ Heat” or “+ Heat energy”
or just “+ Energy” on the products’ side of an equation (as shown in the
above equation).
Natural gas is mainly methane (CH4). When natural gas burns in the
oxygen of air, it forms carbon dioxide and water vapour. A large amount of
heat energy is also produced.So it is an exothermic reaction. This can be
written as :
All the combustion reactions are exothermic reactions. For example,

combustion of fuels such as wood, coal, kerosene, petrol and diesel, are all
exothermic reactions (because all these reactions produce heat energy).
During digestion process in our body food is broken down into simpler
substances. For example, the foods like chapatti (roti), bread, rice and
potatoes,etc., contain mainly starch carbohydrate. During digestion, starch
carbohydrate is broken down into a simple carbohydrate called glucose.
This glucose then undergoes slow combustion by combining with oxygen in
the cells of our body to produce energy in a process called respiration. In
addition to other functions, this energy maintains our body heat.
During respiration, glucose combines with oxygen in the cells of our body to
form carbon dioxide and water along with the production of energy.
Respiration is an exothermic process because energy is produced during

this process (as shown by the above equation).
The burning of a magnesium wire in air to form magnesium oxide is an
exothermic reaction because heat and light energy are given out during this
reaction.
The decomposition of vegetable matter into compost is also an example of

exothermic process (because heat energy is evolved during this process).
(ii) Those reactions in which heat is absorbed are known as endothermic reactions.
For example, when nitrogen and oxygen are heated to a very high
temperature (of about 3000°C) they combine to form nitrogen monoxide,
and a lot of heat is absorbed in this reaction :
The reaction between nitrogen and oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide is an

endothermic reaction because heat is absorbed in this reaction.
An endothermic reaction is usually indicated by writing “+ Heat” or “+ Heat
energy ” or just “+ Energy” on the reactants’ side of an equation(as shown
in the above equation).
All the decomposition reactions require energy (in the form of heat, light or
electricity) to take place.So, all the decomposition reactions are
endothermic reactions. For example, when calcium carbonate is heated, it
decomposes to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide :
The decomposition of calcium carbonate is an endothermic reaction

because heat energy is absorbed in this reaction.
Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction. This is because sunlight energy

is absorbed during the process of photosynthesis by green plants.
The electrolysis of water to form hydrogen and oxygen is also an
endothermic reaction. This is because electric energy is absorbed during
this reaction.
From the above examples we can conclude that energy can be given out or
absorbed in chemical reactions in the form of heat, light or electricity.
3. To Indicate the Conditions Under Which the Reaction
Takes Place
● If heat is required for a reaction to take place, then the heat sign delta
(∆) is put over the arrow of the equation. If the reaction takes place in
the presence of a catalyst, then the symbol or formula of the catalyst
is also written above or below the arrow sign in the equation.
Example:
When potassium chlorate (KClO3) is heated in the presence of
manganese dioxide catalyst, it decomposes to form potassium
chloride and oxygen gas. This can be written as :
Here delta (∆) stands for heat and MnO2 is the catalyst.
● The conditions of temperature and pressure at which the reaction

takes place can also be indicated in an equation by writing their
values above or below the arrow sign in the equation.
Example:
Methanol (or Methyl alcohol) is manufactured from carbon monoxide
and hydrogen. The mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases
is compressed to 300 atmospheres pressure and then passed over a
catalyst consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide and chromium oxide
heated to a temperature of 300°C. So, the conditions for this reaction
to take place are :
I. a pressure of 300 atmospheres (written as 300 atm),
II. a temperature of 300°C, and
III. a catalyst which is a mixture of zinc oxide and chromium oxide (ZnO
+ CrO3).
The chemical equation for this reaction along with the conditions are
as follows:
● During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide combines with water in the

presence of ‘sunlight’ and the green pigment of leaves called
‘chlorophyll’ to make food like glucose and oxygen gas is given out.
The conditions for the reaction of photosynthesis to take place are the
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll. So, a chemical equation for
photosynthesis along with conditions can be written as follows :

Part-4 - Making A Chemical Equation More Informative

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Making A Chemical Equation More Informative

The chemical equations can be made more informative in three ways :

1. To Indicate the Physical States of Reactants and Products

2. To Indicate the Heat Changes in an Equation

The burning of carbon in oxygen is an exothermic reaction because heat is

All the combustion reactions are exothermic reactions. For example,

Respiration is an exothermic process because energy is produced during

The decomposition of vegetable matter into compost is also an example of

The reaction between nitrogen and oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide is an

The decomposition of calcium carbonate is an endothermic reaction

Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction. This is because sunlight energy

● The conditions of temperature and pressure at which the reaction

● During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide combines with water in the

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