

If there is not a subscript present on an element, you can infer there is only one atom of that element.Īdding a coefficient in front of a molecule multiplies all atoms within that molecule by the number of the coefficient. For example, in the first picture the coefficient for the second term indicates that 3 molecules of H2 are present, and the subscript of the first term signifies that 2 atoms of nitrogen (N) are present per molecule of N2. The subscript of an atom indicates the amount of that atom in the molecule. In a molecule, the coefficient denotes the amount of that molecule present. The coefficient is placed in front of a molecule, while the subscript follows certain atoms as shown in the first picture. When approaching a chemical equation, it is important that you understand the difference between coefficients and subscripts. The examples will only use whole numbers and will not discuss equations that involve complex ions, which is a molecule that has a charge.



The instructions will examine balancing simple equations that contain 2 molecules for reactants and for products. In simplified terms, the law states that there must be an equal number of atoms of each element in the reactants as in the products. It is important to balance chemical equations in order to follow the Law of the Conservation of Mass. Abbreviations can be found in a periodic table of elements. Abbreviations of element names are used to facilitate the equations. Generally, they follow the format of reactants to products, where "reactants" are the starting materials of your reaction and "products" are the end result. Basic understanding of atoms and inorganic molecules Ĭhemical equations provide a formula for a chemical reaction between molecules that may include a single element or multiple elements.
