Science Common Sense

1313 - How is a chemical reaction represented.

A chemical reaction is usually represented with a simple equation using symbols and arrows.

Here's what it looks like:

Reactants (what you start with) → Products (what you end up with)

Using symbols: A + B → C + D

• A and B are the reactants (things that combine)
• → is the arrow showing the reaction happens
• C and D are the products (things that are made)

For example: 2H2 (hydrogen gas) + O2 (oxygen gas) → 2H2O (water)

This equation shows that when you mix hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, you get water.