State Symbols

• What are state symbols used for in chemical equations?

  To show the state of each substance at a particular temperature
• What state symbol is used for solids?


  s
• What state symbol is used for liquids?

  l
• What state symbol is used for gases?

  g
• What does the state symbol aq represent?

  Aqueous, meaning a substance is dissolved in water
• What state symbol would you use for sodium when it is in solid form at room temperature?


  s
• What state symbol would you use for water in liquid form?

  l
• What happens when sodium is dissolved in water?

  It forms sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
• What state symbol is used for sodium hydroxide when it is dissolved in water?

  aq
• What state symbol is used for hydrogen gas?

  g
• At what temperature would water be in a gaseous state?

  Above 100 degrees Celsius
• What is the melting point of copper?

  1083 degrees Celsius
• At 800 degrees Celsius, what state is copper in?

  Solid
• What are the melting and boiling points of magnesium?

  Melting point: 650 degrees Celsius, Boiling point: 117 degrees Celsius
• At 800 degrees Celsius, what state is magnesium in?

  Liquid
• How do you predict the state of a substance at a certain temperature?

  • Use a table of melting and boiling points
  • Compare the temperature to the melting and boiling points
  • Determine the state based on the comparison
• What are the states of water, copper, and magnesium at 800 degrees Celsius?

  • Water: Gas
  • Copper: Solid
  • Magnesium: Liquid