Question about state symbols

Question

Question:

Q1. What is the difference between aqueous and liquid?

Also, how do we determine the state symbols when writing a chemical equation?

Answer 1

Aqueous (aq) indicates a solution, i.e. a solute dissolved in water.

Liquid (l) indicates something present in the liquid state, and generally that will be water, H₂O(l).

To determine the state symbols in a chemical equation, you have to know the state of each species under the conditions of the chemical reaction. For example, water (H₂O) might be H₂O(l), H₂O(s) or H₂O(g), depending on the temperature where H₂O can exist as a liquid, a solid, or a gas. Other species, such as hydrogen (H₂), oxygen (O₂), nitrogen (N₂), fluorine (F₂), chlorine (Cl₂), helium (He) argon (Ar)....etc. will have a (g) because they normally exists as gases. You just need to know this, otherwise, there is no way to tell what symbol to use.