In a chemical equation, where are the reactants written?
AAbove the arrow
BBelow the arrow
COn the left side of the arrow
DOn the right side of the arrow
By convention, reactants are written on the left side of the arrow and products on the right. The arrow points from reactants to products, indicating the direction of the transformation.
Question 2 True / False
In a chemical reaction, new atoms are created to form the products.
TTrue
FFalse
Answer: False
No atoms are created or destroyed during a chemical reaction. The atoms in the reactants are rearranged — their bonds break and new bonds form — to produce the products. The total number of each type of atom remains the same.
Question 3 Short Answer
When iron rusts, iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxide. Identify the reactants and products.
Think about your answer, then reveal below.
Model answer: Reactants: iron and oxygen. Product: iron oxide (rust).
The reactants are the starting substances (iron metal and oxygen gas from the air). The product is the new substance formed by the reaction (iron oxide, commonly known as rust). The iron and oxygen atoms rearrange to form a new compound with different properties.