The number placed in front of a formula is called a coefficient. the small number within a chemical equation formula is called a subscript. why do we adjust coefficients when balancing chemical equations and not subscripts?

Respuesta :

because coefficients numbers make the elements to be stable.

We adjust the chemical equation because it only determines the number of

molecules of the substance but the subscript cannot be altered because it

is the actual chemical composition of the natural substance.

The number placed in front of a chemical formula is called the coefficient

and it only determines the number of molecules.

The Coefficient only gives the amount in molecules of the chemical

formula.  

This  can easily be changed in a chemical reaction because it is the number

of molecules(quantity) that goes into the reaction.

On the other hand the subscript is the natural chemical composition of

the formula.

Altering the subscript will change the natural substance itself.

For example the natural chemical composition of water is H₂O .

The subscript cannot be altered in a reaction because it changes the

compound entirely if it is altered. The compound will no longer be water if

altered.

But we can add a coefficient of 2, 4, 5 etc to water in a chemical equation

because it only determines the number of moles of water.

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