What does a chemical equation represent?

A chemical equation represents the reactants and products in a chemical reaction, clearly illustrating how substances transform during the process. In a chemical equation, the reactants are listed on the left side and the products on the right side, often separated by an arrow that indicates the direction of the reaction. This representation is essential because it provides a clear and concise summary of what occurs at the molecular level during the reaction, including the conservation of mass and the stoichiometry involved.

The other options focus on specific aspects that, while they may occur during some chemical reactions, are not indicative of what a chemical equation fundamentally represents. For example, temperature change, energy loss, or color change may be observed in a reaction, but they do not encompass the complete representation of the reactants and products, which is the primary purpose of a chemical equation. Understanding this key function is crucial for analyzing and predicting the outcomes of different chemical reactions.