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Definition: chemical equation from Philip's Encyclopedia

Set of symbols used to represent a chemical reaction. Equations show how atoms are rearranged as a result of a reaction, with reactants on the left-hand side and products on the right-hand side. For example, the formation of magnesium oxide when magnesium burns in oxygen is represented by 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO. The number of atoms of an element on the left-hand side of an equation must equal the number on the right.

chemical equation

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
group of symbols representing a chemical reaction . The chemical equation 2H 2 +O 2 →2H 2 O represents the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water. The arrow points in the direction of the reaction—from the reactants (substances that react) toward the product or products. In this case the reactants are hydrogen (written H 2 because each molecule consists of two atoms of hydrogen) and oxygen (written O 2 because each molecule consists of two atoms of oxygen) and the product is water. The coefficient 2 before the H 2 indicates that two molecules of hydrogen take part in the reaction, and the 2 before the H 2 O indicates that two molecules of water are produced. When no number is written, as in front of the O 2 , a one is assumed; one molecule of oxygen takes part in the reaction. The equation shows that two molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of oxygen to form two molecules of water. Because of the relationship between molecules and the mole , the equation also shows that…
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Full text Article chemical equation

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
group of symbols representing a chemical reaction . The chemical equation 2H 2 +O 2 →2H 2 O represents the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water. The arrow points in the direction of the reaction—from the reactants (substances that react) toward the product or products. In this case the…
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Full text Article chemical equation

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Method of indicating the reactants and products of a chemical reaction by using chemical symbols and formulae. A chemical equation gives two basic pieces of information: (1) the reactants (on the left-hand side) and products (right-hand side); and (2) the reacting proportions (stoichiometry) – that…
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Full text Article chemical equation

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Method of writing the essential features of a chemical reaction using chemical symbols (or other agreed-upon abbreviations). By convention, reactants (present at the start) are on the left, products (present at the end) on the right. A single arrow between them denotes an irreversible reaction, a…
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Full text Article chemical equation

From The Penguin Dictionary of Science
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Full text Article chemical equation

From The Macquarie Dictionary
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Full text Article chemical equation

From Philip's Encyclopedia
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Full text Article chemical equation

From Science Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Chemistry
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Full text Article chemical equation

From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary
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Full text Article chemical equation

From Collins English Dictionary
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Full text Article equation chemical

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
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