Once the correct formulae have been written for all reactants and products, the overall chemical equation has to be

To provide a detailed understanding of how to write the overall chemical equation after formulating the reactants and products, we'll follow these steps:

1. Break Down the Problem

To write the overall chemical equation, you need to:

1. Identify the reactants involved in the reaction.
2. Identify the products that will be formed as a result of the chemical reaction.
3. Ensure that the formulas for all substances (reactants and products) are correctly balanced.

2. Relevant Concepts

The key concepts necessary for writing a chemical equation include:

• Chemical formulas: The representation of substances using symbols (e.g., $\text{H}_2\text{O}$ for water).
• Balancing equations: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, so the number of atoms for each element must be the same on both sides of the equation.
• Reactants and products: Reactants are the starting materials in a chemical reaction, and products are the substances formed by the reaction.

3. Analysis and Detail

1. Identify Reactants: Begin with the substances that are present before the reaction.
2. Identify Products: Determine what the reaction will yield.
3. Write the Unbalanced Equation: Formulate the unbalanced equation using the correct chemical formulas.
4. Balance the Equation:
   • Start with the most complex molecule.
   • Adjust coefficients to balance the number of atoms of each element on both sides.
   • Repeat until all elements are balanced.

4. Verify and Summarize

After balancing, check to ensure that:

• The atoms of each element are equal on both sides.
• The charges (if applicable) are balanced.
• The equation adheres to the basic rules of stoichiometry.

Final Answer

The overall balanced chemical equation summarizing the reaction will be presented in the form: $\text{Reactants} \rightarrow \text{Products}$ For example, for the combustion of methane: $\text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}$ This equation shows one molecule of methane reacting with two molecules of oxygen to produce one molecule of carbon dioxide and two molecules of water, ensuring all atoms are balanced.