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Why can't a subscript in a formula of a chemical compound change when balancing an equation?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Answer 1
To balance an equation means that there are the same number of each element on each side. The reason a subscript cannot change is that it represents the amount of an element within a certain compound in relation to any other elements. If that ratio changes, it is no longer the same compound. Changing a subscript changes a formula so that it no longer stands for the correct substance.
Answer 2
The point of balancing an equation is to find the ratios in which chemicals will react or be produced. By changing the equation, you change the reaction. Therefore you are not trying to balance the same reaction.
Answer 3
A balanced chemical equation is the standard way of writing equations for chemical reactants because it follows the LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MASS.
Because there is a total of four atoms in the reactants, a total of four atoms must be in the products.
Answer 4
Changing the subscripts changes the compounds in the reaction. A subscript in the formula can not be changed when balancing an equation because changing a subscript would make the formula describe a different compound, or rather more likely a non-existent compound.
Answer 5
If the subscript of the element while balancing is changed, then the entire molecule gets changed !
For eg: Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 are entirely different compounds with diff. properties, colour , magnetic behaviour etc. This would basically be changing the element altogether. Think about the difference between O2 and O3. O2 is regular oxygen-the air we breathe. O3, on the other hand, is what makes up the ozone. so, instead of changing O2 to O6, you put 3O2 to say that you have three O2 atoms, not an O6 atom. I hope I was able to clarify that.
Answer 6
The subscripts represent the number of atoms of each element in each chemical formula-if you change the subscripts, you change the compounds the formulas are describing.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoWhen balancing a chemical equation, you cannot change the subscripts in the chemical formulas, because that would be changing the identities of the substances in the equation. Each substance has its own unique chemical formula including specific subscripts for specific elements. What you can do when balancing a chemical equation, is to change the amount of a substance by adding a coefficient in front of its chemical formula.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoChanging the subscripts changes the compounds in the reaction. You cannot do that---you can only change how many of each compound react.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBoth a balanced equation and a recipe give quantitative information about the starting and the end materials.
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Why is it important never to change a subscription in a chemical formula when balancing a chemical equation?
It is important never to change a subscript {note correct spelling} in a chemical formula when balancing a chemical equation, because changing a subscript produces a formula that specifies a chemical substance different from the one in the original equation.
What do you add when balancing a chemical equation?
You add or change the coefficient, never the subscript or it becomes a completely different molecule.*cough 8th grade science*
What is the differences between subscripts and coefficients?
A coefficient is the number that goes before an element when your balancing the equation. And a subscript is the number after the element. Subscripts are not changed when you balance the equation.
Can an equation can be balanced by placing the appropiate number called a subscript in front of the chemical symbols or formulas?
Balancing an equation is simply a matter of ensuring that the number of atoms of each specific element that you start with (reactants) are the same as the number that you wind up with (products) in the new arrangements or compounds that they form. And a subscript is the number written halfway below the line, to show how many atoms are in a given molecule; it does not appear (contrary to your assertion) in front of chemical symbols or formulas.
Which is the next logical step in balancing the given equation n2 plus o2-no2?
The next logical step in balancing the equation would be to change the subscript of the nitrogen molecule to a one.
How does a subscript in a chemical formula affect balancing chemical equation?
How does a subscript affect the element just before it?
Why is it important never to change a subscription in a chemical formula when balancing a chemical equation?
It is important never to change a subscript {note correct spelling} in a chemical formula when balancing a chemical equation, because changing a subscript produces a formula that specifies a chemical substance different from the one in the original equation.
What is the difference between a subscript and coefficiant?
A coefficient is the number that goes before an element when your balancing the equation. And a subscript is the number after the element. Subscripts are not changed when you balance the equation.
Why is it wrong to change subcripts when balancing chemical equation?
When you are balancing known reactants and known products which is always the case when you are asked to "balance" a chemical equation you must not change the subscripts as that changes the reactants or the products to a different chemical compound.
What do you add when balancing a chemical equation?
You add or change the coefficient, never the subscript or it becomes a completely different molecule.*cough 8th grade science*
What is the differences between subscripts and coefficients?
A coefficient is the number that goes before an element when your balancing the equation. And a subscript is the number after the element. Subscripts are not changed when you balance the equation.
Can an equation can be balanced by placing the appropiate number called a subscript in front of the chemical symbols or formulas?
Balancing an equation is simply a matter of ensuring that the number of atoms of each specific element that you start with (reactants) are the same as the number that you wind up with (products) in the new arrangements or compounds that they form. And a subscript is the number written halfway below the line, to show how many atoms are in a given molecule; it does not appear (contrary to your assertion) in front of chemical symbols or formulas.
Why mole concept is used in balancing chemical equation?
mole concept is used in balancing chemical reaction because for balancing a reaction u cant change the numbers such as 1,2,3 etc.. in between the compund so as a whole we are changing outside the compound
Which is the next logical step in balancing the given equation n2 plus o2-no2?
The next logical step in balancing the equation would be to change the subscript of the nitrogen molecule to a one.
In a chemical formula what is used to indicate the number of atoms of each element?
It is called a subscript. For example: In the formula for water (H2O), 2 is the subscript indicating that there are 2 hydrogen atoms in the compound .
Describle two reasons for balancing chemical equation?
what is the chemical equation of nitrogen + oxygen= nitric oxide
Balancing a chemical equation is a example of?
An example of a balanced chemical equation is: NaOH + HCl = NaCl + H2O
