poon cho tang SG pedantically, (l) could be more to indicate that water, as a participating reagent, is in its liquid state (aq) has a double meaning, inferring that water is reacting both in its liquid state and "dissolved" as H+ and O2- ions
starmoonsun SG huh??? i thought (l) is because it is like distilled water, no ions disassociate then aqueous will have -confused-
^tamago^ SG er, if you are O level, just take H20 as (l) can liao. for A level it gets a bit more complicated.
tanjun SG For me, I will put the state symbol of H2O as l. The state symbol (aq) refers to a solution that is dissolved in water. It makes no sense to say that H2O dissolves in H2O. For example: HCL (aq) refers to hydrochloric acid while HCL (g) refers to hydrogen chloride gas. Hydrochloric acid is a product when hydrogen chloride is pumped and dissolved in water. Hydrochloric acid has acidic properties while hydrogen chloride gas doesn't. Thus, my stand on H2O(l) result.
rain-coat SG H2O is (l) since its in the liquid form, just like eg. NaCl(l) in molten state. (aq) is for substances dissolved in water eg. NaCl(aq) sodium chloride solution.
unclebutcher SG for o levels, no such thing as H2O (aq). aq means the compund has dissociated in a solvent, which is illogical for h2o as h2o cannot dissociate in h2o.
ultranova3 SG I think the term should be auto-protonation of water/self-ionization of water/auto-dissociation of water. 2H2O(l) H3O+(aq) + OH-(aq) Kw = 1 x 10^-14 Kw is water dissociation constant. You can find more about this in acid-base equilibria.
HyuugaNeji SG When they put H2O(l), it usually mean the water does not take part in the chemical reaction. Bluff you la. Water(l) is put in there to confuse pple.
Darkness_hacker99 SG But But But... Say Alkali metal react with water. K(s) + H2O(l) --> KOH(aq) + H2(g) So water take part in the chemical reaction right?
