When balancing a chemical equation, which of the following can be changed?

Test Studying GIF by Ben Stillman

a
the mass
b
the subscripts
c
the formulas
d
the coefficients

d) the coefficients

When balancing a chemical equation, the following can be changed:

a) The mass: This is not something that can be directly changed when balancing an equation. The mass of elements must be conserved on both sides of the equation.

b) The subscripts: The subscripts in a chemical formula represent the number of atoms of each element in a molecule. These cannot be changed when balancing an equation, as they represent the composition of the compound.

c) The formulas: The formulas of the compounds involved in the chemical equation cannot be changed. They are fixed and represent the specific arrangement and composition of atoms in a compound.

d) The coefficients: Balancing a chemical equation involves adjusting the coefficients (whole numbers in front of each compound) to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides of the equation. The coefficients can be changed to achieve a balanced equation.

Therefore, the correct answer is option d) the coefficients can be changed when balancing a chemical equation.