chemical equations

A chemical equation is a written way to show what happens during a chemical reaction. It uses symbols and formulas to represent the substances involved, called reactants, which interact and transform into new substances called products. The equation must balance, meaning the number of atoms for each element remains the same on both sides, following the law of conservation of mass. For example, in water formation, hydrogen and oxygen combine to produce water, represented as 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. This concise notation helps scientists understand, predict, and communicate chemical changes clearly.