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Word Equation

Key Stage 3

Meaning

A word Equation is a way of representing chemical reactions to show the reactants and products using the names of the chemicals.

About Word Equations

In a word equation the reactants are on the left and the products are on the right.
ReactantsProducts.png
Word equations can be used to show the names of chemicals before and after reactions but they do not show the numbers of molecules or the number of atoms in each molecule. For that information you need a Balanced Symbol Equation.

Examples

Hydrogen+Oxygen=Water.png
Methane+Oxygen.png
Magnesium+Oxygen=MagnesiumOxide.png
HydrochloricAcid+LithiumOxide.png

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A word equation is a way of representing chemical reactions to show the reactants and products using the names of the chemicals.

About Word Equations

In a word equation the reactants are on the left and the products are on the right.

Examples

Combustion Reactions

These combustion reactions involve electron sharing.

Methane + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water
Ethane + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water
Propane + OxygenCarbon Dioxide + Water

Oxidation Reactions

Oxidation reactions involve electron transfer.

Magnesium + OxygenMagnesium Oxide
Aluminium + OxygenAluminium Oxide
Iron + OxygenIron Oxide

Displacement Reactions

Displacement reactions involve electron transfer.

Copper Sulphate + MagnesiumMagnesium Sulphate + Copper
Iron Chloride + CalciumCalcium Chloride + Iron
Lithium Hydroxide + PotassiumPotassium Hydroxide + Lithium
Iron Oxide + AluminiumAluminium Oxide + Iron

Neutralisation Reactions

Neutralisation reactions involve proton transfer.

Hydrochloric Acid + Lithium OxideLithium Chloride + Water
Hydrochloric Acid + Iron OxideIron Chloride + Water
Sulphuric Acid + Potassium HydroxidePotassium Sulphate + Water
Sulphuric Acid + Aluminium HydroxideAluminium Sulphate + Water
Nitric Acid + Magnesium CarbonateMagnesium Nitrate + Carbon Dioxide + Water
Nitric Acid + Titanium CarbonateTitanium Nitrate + Carbon Dioxide + Water

Thermal Decomposition Reactions

Thermal Decomposition reactions involve both electron sharing and electron transfer.

Calcium CarbonateCalcium Oxide + Carbon Dioxide
Copper CarbonateCopper Oxide + Carbon Dioxide
Zinc CarbonateZinc Oxide + Carbon Dioxide

References

AQA

Word equations, page 31, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Word equations, page 31, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Word equations, page 6, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Edexcel

Word equations, page 12, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Word equations, page 22, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
Word equations, page 75, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Word equations, page 92, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR