Ch 14 Section 2

Objectives:
Interpret and write simple chemical formulas

Write and balance simple chemical equations

Explain how a balanced equation shows the law of

conservation of mass
 Chemical Formulas:
A shorthand way to use chemical symbols & numbers
to represent a substance

It shows how many atoms of each kind are present in

a molecule

Formula for water: H2O – one water molecule is

made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom

http://www.3dchem.com/imagesofmolecules/water.jpg
 Chemical Formulas:
Subscripts: a # written below and to the right of a
chemical symbol in a formula
Example: H2O – the “2” is the subscript; only 1 atom of
oxygen is present
Example: Glucose – C6H12O6 - 6 atoms of carbon, 12
atoms of hydrogen, 6 atoms of oxygen

http://fitnesslifestylehealthclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/glucose-molecule.gif
 Chemical Formulas:
Writing formulas for Covalent Compounds:
Composed of 2 nonmetals
Names use prefixes, representing a #
Tells how many atoms of each element are in a formula

Examples: CO2 – carbon dioxide – one carbon atom, 2

oxygen atoms
Example: N2O – dinitrogen monoxide – 2 nitrogen
atoms, 1 oxygen atom

http://www.windows2universe.org/physical_science/chemistry/co2_molecule_big.gif
 Chemical Formulas:
Writing formulas for Ionic Compounds:
Composed of one nonmetal & one metal
Charge is zero
The formula has subscripts that cause the charges of
the ions to cancel out

Example: NaCl – sodium chloride – 1 sodium atom, 1

chlorine atom
Example: MgCl – magnesium chloride – 1 magnesium
atom, 2 chlorine atoms
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jfuller/chemistry/magnesiumchloride.gif
Chemical Equations:
A way to describe reactions

Chemical symbols and formulas are used

Starting material: reactants

Substances formed from a reaction: products

Example: C + O2 CO2
 Chemical Equations:
The importance of accuracy

Formulas and symbols can be

mistaken

Similar symbols & formulas

CO2 – carbon dioxide
CO – carbon monoxide
Co – the element cobalt
http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/276131-8511-16.jpg
http://www2.ggl.ulaval.ca/personnel/paglover/Images/Fire/dluciv_Fire_Extinguisher.jpg
 Chemical Equations:
Must be balanced

Atoms cannot be lost or gained in a chemical

reaction; they are only rearranged

Antoine Lavoisier – Law of Conservation of Mass –

mass is neither created nor destroyed in chemical or
physical changes

http://www.chemteam.info/Gallery/Lavoisier.gif
http://distractible.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/weights.jpg
Chemical Equations:
How to balance an equation:

Use coefficients – a # placed in the front of a chemical

symbol or formula
Example: 2CO - 2 carbon monoxide molecules
 Chemical Equations:
Atoms must be counted to balance an equation
Multiply the subscript of each element with the
coefficient
Example: 2H2O
4 hydrogen atoms, 2 oxygen atoms
Only coefficients are changed

http://www.mikeblaber.org/oldwine/chm1045/notes/Stoich/Equation/coeff.gif
Quick Quiz:
What is the difference between a reactant and a
product?

What is the difference between the formula CO and

the symbol Co?
Reference: