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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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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 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 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 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 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 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.


How do you speed up a chemical equation?

adding heat using a catalyser


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

No


How do you balance the chemical equation of 3Na plus AlCl3 - 3NaCl plus Al?

To balance the chemical equation for 3Na + AlCl3 → 3NaCl + Al, you can start by adding a coefficient of 2 in front of AlCl3, giving you 3Na + 2AlCl3 → 3NaCl + Al. Then, you balance the sodium atoms by adding a coefficient of 6 in front of NaCl, resulting in the balanced equation: 3Na + 2AlCl3 → 6NaCl + Al.


Why is the chemical equation H2 plus O2 equals H2O is not balanced?

The chemical equation H2 + O2 -> H2O is not balanced because the number of oxygen atoms is not equal on both sides of the equation. There are two oxygen atoms on the left side (O2) and only one on the right side (H2O). Balancing the equation would require adding a coefficient of 2 in front of H2O to have an equal number of oxygen atoms on both sides.


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.


How do you balance Ba S8 yields BaS?

To balance the chemical equation for the reaction between Ba and S to produce BaS, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. You can balance the equation by adding coefficients in front of the Ba and BaS molecules. In this case, the balanced equation is: 8Ba + S8 -> 8BaS.