Which statement best describes a word equation?

Which statement best describes a word equation?

• A. It uses words to describe reactants and products.
• B. It shows unbalanced stoichiometry.
• C. It uses symbols and formulas only.
• D. It indicates reaction mechanisms.

Answer: (A)

Word equations describe chemical reactions using the names of substances rather than their chemical symbols or formulas. This makes the reaction readable in everyday language. For example, hydrogen gas + oxygen gas → water shows the reactants and product with words. The best description is that it uses words to describe reactants and products. The other ideas don’t fit: a word equation isn’t defined by balancing (it can be balanced or unbalanced), it’s not just about symbols and formulas (that would be a symbolic equation), and it doesn’t show reaction mechanisms (the steps of how the reaction proceeds).

Word equations describe chemical reactions using the names of substances rather than their chemical symbols or formulas. This makes the reaction readable in everyday language. For example, hydrogen gas + oxygen gas → water shows the reactants and product with words. The best description is that it uses words to describe reactants and products. The other ideas don’t fit: a word equation isn’t defined by balancing (it can be balanced or unbalanced), it’s not just about symbols and formulas (that would be a symbolic equation), and it doesn’t show reaction mechanisms (the steps of how the reaction proceeds).