Ok, I know how to balance chemical equations, however, I don't know how to tell if it is a S, L, aq, or g? How am I supposed to know this??
Mg(s)+AgNO3(aq)→Mg(NO3)2(aq)+Ag(s)
Express your answer as a chemical equation. Identify all of the phases in your answer.
Balanced equation would be :
Mg + Ag 2NO3--> Mg (NO3)2 +Ag
But what's the phases?
k74sa
Use the periodic table. There are 5 elements that are gases; H2, N2, O2, F2. Cl2 (plus of course the noble gases but we usually ignor those anyway). There are some common compounds that yu will learn as you go along; i.e., CO2, SO2, SO3, CO, NO, NO2, CH4(methane), C2H6(ethane), C2H4(ethene) and some others. Two liquids are Br2 and Hg. The rest are solids. Everything to the right of the "staircase of the elements" is a non-metal; everything to the left of that line is a metal. Those elements adjacent or on the line can act both ways.
To determine the phases in a chemical equation, you need to understand the common abbreviations for the different physical states of matter:
1. (s) stands for solid state: In the given equation, "Mg(s)" indicates that magnesium (Mg) is in solid form.
2. (l) stands for liquid state: However, there are no substances mentioned in a liquid state in this equation.
3. (g) stands for gaseous state: There are no gases mentioned in the given equation.
4. (aq) stands for aqueous state: "AgNO3(aq)" and "Mg(NO3)2(aq)" both indicate that silver nitrate (AgNO3) and magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) are in a dissolved state in water.
5. (s) also stands for precipitate: Additionally, in the given equation, "Ag(s)" indicates that silver (Ag) is precipitating out of the solution as a solid.
So, the identification of phases for the given equation would be as follows:
Mg(s) + AgNO3(aq) → Mg(NO3)2(aq) + Ag(s)