The importance of writing chemical equations for chemistry students

Is the ability to write chemical equations that important?

Many secondary chemistry students can get by with a B4 or C5 grade without knowing how to write chemical equations properly.

However, if you have the intention to do better, you should aim to write chemical equations fast and without mistakes.

Why not being able to write chemical equations will hold you back from a distinction?

In mole concept and stoichiometry, an incorrectly balanced chemical equation impacts the mole ratio of substances used in chemical calculations.

Even worse, if you are struggling to write the chemical formulae of substances, it affects your ability to balance an equation or you may use an incorrect relative molecular / formula mass of a substance in the calculation.

Which means that even if you are good at applying the mole concept formulae for the chemical calculations, these mistakes will result in you not being able to score full marks for the calculation questions.

It may also impact questions relating to these topics below:

• Acids Bases and Salts

• Metals

• Periodic Table

• Qualitative Analysis

• Speed of Reaction

• Electrolysis

• Organic Chemistry

Time to test yourself!

Write a balanced chemical equation with state symbols for the following reactions:

1. zinc chloride solution + potassium hydroxide solution —> zinc hydroxide precipitate + potassium chloride solution

2. chlorine gas + potassium bromide solution —> potassium chloride solution + bromine solution

3. phosphoric acid + sodium carbonate —>

Scroll below for answers!

Answers:

1. ZnCl2(aq) + 2KOH(aq) —> Zn(OH)2(s) + 2KCl(aq)

2. Cl2(g) + 2KBr(aq) —> 2KCl(aq) + Br2(aq)

3. 2H3PO4(aq) + 3Na2CO3(aq) —> 2Na3PO4(aq) + 3H2O(l) + 3CO2(g)

Did you score full marks? Congratulations!

If you didnt score full marks, revise and recap with your school notes or textbooks and most importantly, PRACTICE!

If you need more guidance, tips and practice, do register your interest below for our June holiday workshop to perfect your chemical equation writing skills!