Chapter 9, Problem 58A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

A chemical reaction and a chemical equation needs to be differentiated.

Concept introduction:

The symbolic description of a chemical reaction that products and reactants are indicating in terms of their chemical formula is chemical equation. With the help of chemical equation chemical reaction can be expressed by paper. Example:

${\text{CH}}_{\text{4}}\text{+}{\text{2O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}{\text{+2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

Answer to Problem 58A

Chemical equation is the representation of chemical reaction using symbols and formulas but chemical reaction is the actual process in which atoms of one or more substances rearrange to form new substances.

Explanation of Solution

The actual process in which atoms of one or more substances rearrange to form new substances is a chemical reaction. Example hydrogen gas and oxygen gas combine to form liquid water.

Chemical equation is the representation of chemical reaction using symbols and formulas. Example:

${\text{2H}}_2\left(g\right)+{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\left(g\right)\to {\text{2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(l\right)$

Conclusion

Chemical reaction is the actual process in which atoms of one or more substances rearrange to form new substances. Chemical equation is the representation of chemical reaction using symbols and formulas.