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Subscripts represent the number of atoms.

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Edwin Mitchell

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1y ago
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12y ago

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of the element. When two or more elements are written as a compound, the ionic charge of the element becomes a subscript in the chemical equation.

Ex. 1

Aluminum Oxide:

Al^3+ + O^2- ------> Al2O3

Also works when combining an element and an already formed compound:

Ex. 2

Sodium Nitrate

Na^+ + NO3^- -----> NaNO3

Ex. 3

Calcium bicarbonate

Ca^2+ + HCO3^- ------> Ca(HCO3)2

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15y ago

The subscripts tell you how many atoms of each element are in the equation. For instance, sulfuric acid has the molecular formula H2SO4; this means that it contains: * 2 atoms of hydrogen (H) * 1 atom of sulfur (S) * 4 atoms of oxygen (O) When you do a balanced chemical equation between two substances, you need to bear in mind the Law of Conservation of Mass: During any chemical reaction matter can neither be destroyed nor created So you need to make sure that you end up with the same number of atoms of each element in the product(s) as you started with in the reactants.

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13y ago

i have the same question but the answer is simple... only when the answer of the negative is 2- and 2 positive.. if it has a 3 positive than you know that page 233 of ur chemistry book is hard.. good luck

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10y ago

The number of Protons and Electrons in any atom is initially the same. But when forming bonds between another atom, sometimes the atom has to give or receive electrons because they are around the nucleus in orbits.

So for example Chloride is a negative ion. Why? Because Chloride has 7 electrons in its last shell, because of that when forming bonds they are too attracted to the Nucleus to give away electrons. So they rather decide to receive electrons from the bond forming atom. Hence Cl forms a negative ion when it receives more electrons and the number of electrons increase in the specific atom. (More Electrons and Less Protons.)

Apply the same theory to other atom in regard with its electronic configuration and see how positive ions are formed. Na forms Positive Ions. Because it has only 1 electron in the last shell and it gives it away because of less attraction to the nucleus. Hence the number of electrons in the atom decreases and the number of Protons increase and the atom becomes a positive ion.

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8y ago

Subscripts represent the number of atoms.

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Q: What do the subscripts in a balanced chemical equation represent?
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Is it true that the subscripts in a balanced chemical equation specify the volume ratios for gaseous reactants and products?

false


What do coefficients in a chemical equation represent?

Coefficients in a chemical equation represent the number of units of the formula immediately following the coefficient that are involved in the balanced equation for the reaction.


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Equations are oftentimes used to represent chemical reactions. They have to be in the lowest form for it to be considered a balanced equation.


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These subscripts are down the chemical symbol and at right. Example: O2


Select the skeleton equation?

A skeleton equation in chemistry contains obviously the abbreviations of the elements you are being asked to represent. it may contain the exponents also known as subscripts but it does not include coefficients.


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A balanced chemical equation has correct placed coefficients and a representative chemical equation need these coefficients.


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A shorthand representation of the composition of a substance using atomic symbols and numerical subscripts is called a chemical formula.


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Balancing only allows you to change the coefficients, NOT the subscripts.


Subscripts can be changed in order to balance a chemical equation.?

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What symbolic representation of a chemical reaction?

There are several things that may symbolize a chemical reaction. One of the main symbols is a chemical equation which will represent the entities in the reaction. .


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