How do you determine the number of atoms in a chemical equation with subscripts and coefficients?

Answer 1

To determine the correct subscripts in a chemical formula, take H2O as an example. H has a charged of positive 1 while O has a charge of negative 2. To balance out the charges of the two elements, 2 H cations are needed to balance out O negative 2 cation. This will result to H2O.

Answer 2

The subscript to the right of an element tells you how many atoms of that particular element are in a molecule. For example, in the water molecule H2O, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Answer 3

You multiply the coefficients times the subscripts for each element in order to determine the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. The absence of a coefficient is understood to be 1, and the absence of a subscript is understood to be 1. For example, in the balanced equation 2H2 + O2 --> 2H2O, there are 4 atoms of H (coefficient of 2 x subscript of 2) and 2 atoms of O (coefficient of 1 x subscript of 2) on the left side, and 4 atoms of H (coefficient of 2 x subscript of 2) and 2 atoms of O (coefficient of 2 x subscript of 1) on the right side, therefore the equation is balanced.

Answer 4

To determine the number of atoms in a chemical equation with subscripts and coefficients, you multiply the subscript of each element by the coefficient outside the parentheses. Then, you multiply this result by the coefficient in front of the molecule. Finally, sum up the contributions from each element to get the total number of atoms in the chemical equation.

Answer 5

Subscripted numbers in a chemical formula represent the ratio numbers of atoms of all different elements which are present in that compound.

Answer 6

Subscripts show the number of atoms in a molecule.