Physical State Symbols

[Stereoisomer]

Does anyone know how to determine the physcial state symbols for an equation?

ie: solid (s) liquid (l) gas (g) aqueous (aq)

e.g the simplest equaiton possible:

2Mg(s) +O2(g) ------->2MgO(s)

Is there an actual way of knowing?

I missed a few chem classes last year (Pre-IB) due to sickness Please help me:)
Thanks so much:)

Edited February 13, 2009 by MistyRose

[dexter]

I dont know if there is a way but its all practice i mean you automatically know taht NaCl is solid and the acids are Aq but i dont think tehre is a way, the more u see equations the more it becomes by instinct

[__inthemaking]

You just know..there isn't a formula for it or anything. There is a solubility chart for some compounds, but other than that it's just common sense and instinct.

[hermine0817]

Would agree with those above me. As said above, most acids produced are (aq), so are the alkalis (aq) as they are often produced by adding alkali metals or alkali earth metals into water.
Water obviously cannot be (aq), and in chemistry, it is hardly ever the case that solid ice is being used.
Metals used are often (s) except for mercury of course, but I doubt that you will use it in class.
Really, everything else is just common sense.
For instance, when you burn something, you don't use liquid oxygen. That wouldn't make sense.

[Stereoisomer]

Thanks guys:)
I'll just have to remember the odd cases (e.g gaseous H20 aka steam)