A chemical equation is a concise representation of a chemical reaction, utilizing chemical formulas and symbols to illustrate the transformation of reactants into products. For instance, the decomposition of sodium bicarbonate can be expressed as:

2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂

In this equation, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) breaks down to form sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), water (H₂O), and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

Key symbols in chemical equations include:

Reaction Arrow (→): This arrow indicates the direction of the reaction, showing that reactants undergo a transformation to yield products.
Heat Triangle (Δ): This symbol signifies that heat is involved in the reaction, replacing the need to write the word "heat."
State Symbols: These symbols denote the physical state of the compounds involved:

s: solid (e.g., sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate are solids)
l: liquid (e.g., water is a liquid)
g: gas (e.g., carbon dioxide is a gas)
aq: aqueous, indicating that a compound is dissolved in water, surrounded by a solvent.

Understanding these symbols and their meanings is essential for interpreting and writing chemical equations accurately. As you encounter various chemical reactions, these conventions will become increasingly familiar, aiding in your comprehension of chemical processes.

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