What do the symbols (s), (l), and (g) mean in a chemical equation?

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In a chemical equation, the symbols (s), (l), and (g) are used to designate the physical state of the reactants and products involved in a chemical reaction. These symbols represent the following states of matter:

By including these notations, chemists can precisely describe the conditions of the substances participating in the reaction, such as in the synthesis of iron sulfide: Fe(s)+S(s)→FeS(s).1