Question

What does the symbol (aq) represent in a chemical equation?

Answer 1

In some chemical equations, (aq) is written as a symbol after a few reactants or products. This simply represents that we have used the chemicals with water.  For example, consider the following chemical reaction:

\[\ce{Ag^+_{ (aq)} + Cl^-_{ (aq)} -> AgCl_{(s)}}\]

In the above reaction, silver and chlorine are used in aqueous solution to form solid Silver chloride.