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Ask a Teacher - Chemistry - Formulae and Equations - A Question from L Mac
Student Name
L Mac
Question
I don't understand chemical equations and what I was looking for
wasn't on the Bitesize webpage can you help?
Answer
The key to writing equations is to be able to work out FORMULAE.
One common method is called the valency method. You should have
covered this in class. Once you have worked out the formulae substitute
them into the word equation.
Eg When magnesium
is added to copper(11) sulphate, magnesium sulphate and copper are
produced.
Word Equation:
magnesium + copper(11) sulphate
magnesium sulphate + copper
Formula Equation:
Mg + CuSO4
MgSO4 + Cu
For more details
about writing formulae and equations see Standard Chemistry by Dickson
and Wilson pages 31,32,36 and 85-89.
ItÂ’s worth
remembering that if you are really struggling with equations that
it is likely that there will only be 1 or 2 marks worth in the exam.
magnesium sulphate + copper
