When balancing a chemical equation, which of the following can be changed?
the formulas
b
the mass
c
the coefficients
d
the subscripts
d) the subscripts
When balancing a chemical equation, the only thing that can be changed is the coefficients. The formulas, mass, and subscripts must remain the same. The coefficients are the numbers that are placed in front of the formulas to balance the number of atoms on each side of the equation.
When balancing a chemical equation, only the coefficients can be changed. The coefficients represent the number of molecules or atoms of each substance in the equation, and adjusting them is necessary to ensure that the number of atoms on both sides of the equation is equal.
To balance a chemical equation, you need to follow these steps:
1. Write down the unbalanced equation with the correct chemical formulas for each reactant and product.
2. Count the number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.
3. Start by balancing elements that appear in the fewest compounds first.
4. Adjust the coefficients in front of each compound to balance the number of atoms on both sides of the equation.
5. Avoid changing the subscripts because they represent the specific number and arrangement of atoms in a molecule, and altering them would result in a different compound.
By adjusting the coefficients, you can balance the equation to ensure that the total mass and the number of atoms are conserved on both the reactant and product sides of the equation.