Going from Word to Formula Equations Conversions Guided Practice – Keep this resource sheet – Not Homework
For this you will simply need to change the words into the chemical symbols, and then make sure you have the correct
amount of each substance. In addition, you will have to ensure the states of the compounds are represented
appropriately.
Going from Word to Formula Equations: Step 1 Determine the chemical symbols for the compounds involved.
For this you will simply write the chemical symbols beneath the names. For example: Solid Zinc and aqueous Copper (II)
Nitrate react to form Solid Copper and Aqueous Zinc Nitrate. This would be Zn, CuNO3, Cu, ZnNO3
Going from Word to Formula Equations: Step 2 Balance charges on compounds to keep them stable.
For this you will simply use the criss cross method with the charges of each element/polyatomic. Remember that
transition metals have charges equal to the roman numeral. Lone elements will have no charge. For example: Solid Zinc
and aqueous Copper (II) Nitrate react to form Solid Copper and Aqueous Zinc Nitrate. This would be Zn, CuNO3, Cu,
ZnNO3. Therefore Zn is alone, so it will have no charge. Copper (II) means it is Cu2+. Nitrate is NO31-. To balance it out it
would be Cu(NO3)2. On the other side, Cu is alone so it will have no charge. Zinc is Zn2+. Nitrate is NO31-. To balance it
out would be Zn(NO3)2.
Going from Word to Formula Equations: Step 3 Replace the remaining words with the appropriate symbols.
For this you will simply replace the remaining words with the appropriate symbols from the following list:
“and” becomes +, “reacts or decomposes to form” becomes ->, “Aqueous” becomes “(aq)” behind the substance, “Solid”
becomes “(s)” behind the substance, “Gas” becomes “(g)” behind the substance, and “Liquid” becomes “(l)” behind the
substance.
For example: Solid Zinc and aqueous Copper (II) Nitrate react to form Solid Copper and Aqueous Zinc Nitrate is as
follows: Zn(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq) -> Cu(s) + Zn(NO3)2(aq)
Examples:
Aqueous Sodium Sulfide and Aqueous Cadmium Nitrate react to form Aqueous Sodium Nitrate and Aqueous Cadmium
Sulfide
Solid Sodium and Gaseous Chlorine reacts to form Solid Sodium Chloride
Solid Iron and Oxygen Gas react to form Solid Iron (III) Oxide
Now you try:
Solid Magnesium Oxide decomposes to form Solid Magnesium and Oxygen Gas
Solid Sodium and Aqueous Calcium Fluoride React to for Solid Calcium and Aqueous Sodium Fluoride
Aqueous Lead (II) Chloride and Aqueous Silver Nitrate react to form Aqueous Lead (II) Nitrate and Silver Chloride