Chemical Reaction Equations

Definition

A chemical reaction equation is a written representation of what happens in a chemical reaction. It shows the reactants (substances that are combined) on the left side and the products (what they become) on the right side.

Related terms

Reactant: This is a substance that starts off a chemical reaction. They're like the ingredients in our recipe analogy.

Product:

This is what's formed from the reactants during a chemical reaction. In our cooking analogy, this would be your finished dish.

Coefficient: This is a number placed in front of symbols or formulas in an equation to indicate how many molecules or atoms of each reactant and product are involved in a reaction. It's like telling you how many cups or tablespoons of each ingredient you need for your recipe.