Why do scientists use word and symbol equations to represent chemical reactions?

Answer 1

Because writing:

HCl(aq) + NaOH (aq) -> H2O (l) + NaCl (aq)

takes a lot less time than writing:

Hydrochloric acid and Sodium Hydroxide react in solution to produce water and aqueous Sodium Chloride.

Answer 2

The symbols are shorter for us, sometimes the names are so long that its much faster to write down the symbols.

e.g. two moles of hydrogen and a single mole of oxygen combine to give two moles of water" can be more concisely written as: 2H2 + 02 --> 2H2O

this shorthand is much shorter and tells us all the information about moles of reactants and products at a glance.

Another reason is that not all chemists speak the same language, so writing down whats happening is no good if i cannot read and write the other chemists language. But if we look at an equation its the same all over the world, its standard, so it would be possible for me to convey my intentions to another chemist without knowing a single word of their native language.

Answer 3

Using symbols to represent chemical reactions on paper is much less time consuming, and much more informative, than writing them out in words.

Please click on the related link to read the Wikipedia article on chemical equations.

Answer 4

Because the word equation for some reactions are too long

Answer 5

well, its much shorter and also it is much easier to solve

Answer 6

One reason is the chemical equations are much more specific, and the second reason is it is much easier

Answer 7

Because now is the most important method to describe a chemical process.

In the future probable the mathematical modelling will be used.

Answer 8

beacuse it is more relevant to the subject that you are dealing with