Question

Complete each of the following synthesis reactions by writing both a word equation and a chemical equation. a. sodium \(+\) oxygen \(\longrightarrow\) _________ b. magnesium + fluorine \(\longrightarrow\)_________

Short answer

Part (a): Chemical equation: 4 Na + O₂ → 2 Na₂O. Part (b): Chemical equation: Mg + F₂ → MgF₂.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Reactants

For part (a), the reactants are sodium (Na) and oxygen (O₂). For part (b), the reactants are magnesium (Mg) and fluorine (F₂).

Determine Products

In a synthesis reaction, reactants combine to form a single product. For part (a), sodium reacts with oxygen to form sodium oxide (Na₂O). For part (b), magnesium reacts with fluorine to form magnesium fluoride (MgF₂).

Write Word Equations

Part (a): Sodium + Oxygen → Sodium Oxide. Part (b): Magnesium + Fluorine → Magnesium Fluoride.

Write Chemical Equations

Part (a): 4 Na + O₂ → 2 Na₂O. Part (b): Mg + F₂ → MgF₂.

Key concepts

Chemical Equations

Chemical equations are a way to represent chemical reactions in a concise and standardized form. They show the reactants (the starting substances) and the products (the substances formed) using chemical symbols and formulas.

In a chemical equation, reactants are written on the left side of the arrow, and products are written on the right side. The arrow can be read as 'yields' or 'produces'. For example, in the chemical equation for the synthesis of water: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) are the reactants, and water (H₂O) is the product.

It's important to balance chemical equations to comply with the law of conservation of mass. This means the number of atoms for each element must be the same on both sides of the equation. This helps in understanding that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Reactants and Products

In any chemical reaction, substances that undergo change are called reactants, and the new substances formed are called products.

Reactants are present at the start of the reaction, and they react together under certain conditions (like heat, pressure, or the presence of catalysts) to form products.

For example, in the synthesis reaction for sodium oxide: 4Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O, sodium (Na) and oxygen (O₂) are the reactants, and sodium oxide (Na₂O) is the product.

Identifying the reactants and products helps to write and understand both word and chemical equations of any reaction. It's also essential for predicting the outcomes of reactions and understanding their practical implications.

Word Equations

Word equations are a way to describe chemical reactions using the names of the reactants and products instead of chemical symbols. They provide an easy and straightforward way to understand what happens in a reaction without needing to know the chemical formulas.

For example, the word equation for the formation of sodium oxide is: Sodium + Oxygen → Sodium Oxide.

Word equations are particularly useful when first learning about chemical reactions, as they help to visualize the change from reactants to products. After understanding word equations, it becomes easier to convert them into chemical equations which show the actual formulas and the stoichiometry of the reaction.

Using word equations in conjunction with chemical equations allows for a deeper understanding of the processes involved in chemical reactions.