Question

How do you write the word equation and balanced symbol equation for lithium reacting with water and zinc reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that a metal reacts with lithium and zinc to form metal lithium and hydrogen gas. A metal reacts with hydrochloric acid to form metal chloride and hydrogen gas. Word equation means we have to write the chemical reaction in the form of words. Chemical reaction means we have to mention the chemical symbols of the elements to represent the reaction.

Complete step by step solution:
The loss of electrons is oxidation. Thus, above reactions represent redox reactions in which sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid acts as oxidizing agent and metal acts as reducing agent. Example: Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with zinc granules to form zinc sulphate and hydrogen. First write the word equation: $Sulphuricacid+Zinc=Zincsulphate+Hydrogen$
Here we have for lithium reacting with water and zinc reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid:
The above reactions, the protons accept electrons to form hydrogen gas. Thus, sulphuric acid or hydrochloric acid is reduced during the reaction. Gain of electrons is reduction. Metal is oxidized to metal ions in the salt as metal loses electrons to form metal cations. In a physical change, the damage occurs physically but in a chemical change, the composition (chemical constituents) is going to change.
 $Zinc+hydrochloricacid\to Zincchloride+dihydrogengas$
Therefore, $Li(s)+H_{2}O(l)\to LiOH(aq)+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}{H}_2(g)$ thus, $Zn(s)+2HC{l}_{(aq)}\to ZnC{l_2}_{(aq)}+{H_2}_{(g)}$
The word equation and balanced symbol equation for lithium reacting with water and zinc reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid; $Lithium+water\to Lithiumhydroxide+dihydrogengas$ .

Note:
Remember that if a change happens physically (meaning the composition of the chemical should not change) then it is called a physical change. If a change happens chemically means the composition of the chemical changes then it is called a chemical change.