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The subscripts determine what the chemicals are, you have to change the amount of the reactants/products rather than change what the reactants/products actually are

eg O2 is oxygen gas, if you wanted 4 of them to balance it it would have to be 2 O2 otherwise it wouldn't be oxygen gas any more.

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Q: Is a chemical equation balanced by changing or adding?
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What has to happen for a chemical equation to be balanced?

There has to be the same numbers and types of elements on both sides of the equation. This is accomplished by adding coefficients in front of the chemical formulas as needed. Never change a formula when balancing an equation.


A chemical reaction is balanced by changing?

To balance a chemical equation, you can change the coefficients (number of molecules). Remember: You cannot change the subscripts.When we balance an equation we change the number of atoms on one or both sides of the equation by means of simple mathematical calculation. That is, we change the number of molecules of one or more reactants or products. When the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation, and cannot be reduced equally, the balancing process is complete.


What is a balanced chemical reaction?

In a balanced chemical equation there should be the same amount of atoms present in the products as there were in the reactants and only whole molecules can be formed or used (no half molecules). For example... CH4 + 2O2 = Co2 + 2H2O. If you add up the various atoms in the reactants you find 1 x Carbon, 4 x Hydrogen and 4 x Oxygen. The products contain 1 x Carbon, 4 x Hydrogen and 4 x Oxygen. The equation is therefore balanced. You will note also that 2 molecules of O2 were used as reactants in order to produce complete molecules of products.


Does adding coefficients to a chemical equation disobey the law of define proportions?

No


When balancing a chemical equation can you adjust the script in a formula?

No. Never change the subscripts because then you are changing the formula of the substance to something else. You can only change the amount of a substance by adding a coefficient in front of the formula. If there is no coefficient, it is understood to be 1.

Related questions

A chemical equation is balnced by changing or adding?

Adding.


What has to happen for a chemical equation to be balanced?

There has to be the same numbers and types of elements on both sides of the equation. This is accomplished by adding coefficients in front of the chemical formulas as needed. Never change a formula when balancing an equation.


What do you mean by balanced chemical equation?

A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of the same atoms on both sides are equal. A balanced chemial equation is important because during a chemical reaction, there is rearrangement of atoms only and no new atoms are added. To understand the concept of a balanced chemical equation, first consider an unbalanced chemical equation between magnesium and oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Unbalanced chemical equation: Mg(s) + O2(g) --> MgO(s) Initially, this equation is unbalanced because if we count the number of the oxygen atoms on both sides, the number are unequal. There are two oxygen atoms on the left side but only one on the right side. A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of all of the same atoms on both side are equal. We can balance chemical equations by adding numbers to the coefficient of the chemicals that are involved in the reaction. Balanced chemical equation: 2Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2MgO(s) This equation is now balanced because if we count the number of the same atoms on both side, they are equal. There are two magnesium atoms and two oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.


What do you mean by chemical equation?

A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of the same atoms on both sides are equal. A balanced chemial equation is important because during a chemical reaction, there is rearrangement of atoms only and no new atoms are added. To understand the concept of a balanced chemical equation, first consider an unbalanced chemical equation between magnesium and oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Unbalanced chemical equation: Mg(s) + O2(g) --> MgO(s) Initially, this equation is unbalanced because if we count the number of the oxygen atoms on both sides, the number are unequal. There are two oxygen atoms on the left side but only one on the right side. A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of all of the same atoms on both side are equal. We can balance chemical equations by adding numbers to the coefficient of the chemicals that are involved in the reaction. Balanced chemical equation: 2Mg(s) + O2(g) --> 2MgO(s) This equation is now balanced because if we count the number of the same atoms on both side, they are equal. There are two magnesium atoms and two oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation.


A chemical reaction is balanced by changing?

To balance a chemical equation, you can change the coefficients (number of molecules). Remember: You cannot change the subscripts.When we balance an equation we change the number of atoms on one or both sides of the equation by means of simple mathematical calculation. That is, we change the number of molecules of one or more reactants or products. When the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation, and cannot be reduced equally, the balancing process is complete.


What is a balanced chemical reaction?

In a balanced chemical equation there should be the same amount of atoms present in the products as there were in the reactants and only whole molecules can be formed or used (no half molecules). For example... CH4 + 2O2 = Co2 + 2H2O. If you add up the various atoms in the reactants you find 1 x Carbon, 4 x Hydrogen and 4 x Oxygen. The products contain 1 x Carbon, 4 x Hydrogen and 4 x Oxygen. The equation is therefore balanced. You will note also that 2 molecules of O2 were used as reactants in order to produce complete molecules of products.


Does adding coefficients to a chemical equation disobey the law of define proportions?

No


How do you speed up a chemical equation?

adding heat using a catalyser


When balancing a chemical equation what do you adjust?

You can only adjust the amount of a substance by adding a coefficient in front of the chemical formula. If there is no coefficient, it is understood to be 1.


When balancing a chemical equation can you adjust the script in a formula?

No. Never change the subscripts because then you are changing the formula of the substance to something else. You can only change the amount of a substance by adding a coefficient in front of the formula. If there is no coefficient, it is understood to be 1.


Is adding water to lemonade physical or chemical change?

Physical because, the lemonade dissolves into the water, without creating any of the chemical changing results.


What is the balance equation for NaCl plus BaCl2?

This equation does not balance because 2 chlorine salts do not react with eachother. However, they are both highly soluable in water. By adding H2O, this equation can be balanced.