The online simulations of chemical equations on this page will help you to better understand how chemical equations work and the laws that govern them. We will discover what a chemical equation is, what chemical formulas are and how the balancing a chemical equation can be done.
What is a chemical equation
A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. These equations describe the changes that occur in the atoms and molecules of substances that are combining or decomposing during a reaction.
Chemical formulas
Chemical equations are written in the form of chemical formulas that represent the substances involved in the reaction. For example, the chemical equation for the combustion of methane is:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
In this equation, CH4 represents methane, O2 represents oxygen, CO2 represents carbon dioxide, and H2O represents water. The numbers in front of the chemical formulas are the stoichiometric coefficients, which indicate the ratio in which the substances react and are produced.
Balancing a chemical equation
It is important to note that chemical equations must be balanced, that is, they must have the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. Balancing a chemical equation is done by adjusting the stoichiometric coefficients, ensuring that the law of conservation of matter is met.
Application of chemical equations and chemical formulas
Ultimately, chemical equations and chemical formulas are important tools for understanding how chemical reactions occur and for predicting the products of a reaction. They are also used to calculate the amount of reactants needed to produce a specific amount of product and vice versa.
Explore the fascinating world of chemistry with our online simulations of chemical equations. Adjust stoichiometric coefficients and observe the effects in real time to develop your chemistry skills and knowledge – learn in a dynamic and entertaining way!
Simulations of chemical equations
Balancing a chemical equation
Watch the first of our simulations of chemical equations. How do you know if a chemical equation is balanced? What can you change to balance an equation? Play a game to test your ideas!
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Reactants, products and leftovers
Create your own sandwich and then see how you can make many sandwiches with different amounts of ingredients. Do the same with chemical reactions. See how many products you can make with different amounts of reactants, products and leftovers Can you get a perfect score on each level?
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Law of Definite Proportions
The law of definite proportions, also known as the law of constant proportions, is one of the fundamental principles of chemistry. It states that in a chemical compound, the elements are always present in a fixed and definite proportion in terms of their mass. For example, in water (H2O), the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen by mass is always 2:16, or in terms of atoms, there are always two hydrogen atoms for every oxygen atom. Observe in this simulation how in a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. In a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water, two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to form a water molecule. Hydrogen and oxygen always react in a 2:1 ratio to form water.
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