When approaching a CHEMICAL EQUATION, it is important you understand the difference between COEFFICIENTS and SUBSCRIPTS. . The COEFFICIENT is a WHOLE NUMBER INTEGER placed in front of an ELEMENT, COMPOUND, or MOLECULE, and denotes the AMOUNT of MOLES for a particular ELEMENT, COMPOUND, or MOLECULE. . The SUBSCRIPT is placed behind the ELEMENT, MOLECULE, or COMPOUND and denotes the NUMBER of ATOMS in that GROUPING. . To BALANCE an EQUATION, COEFFICIENTS are used to MODIFY the NUMBER of MOLES of REACTANTS and/or PRODUCT, such that MASS is CONSERVED on BOTH SIDE of the CHEMICAL EQUATION. . CHANGING the COEFFICIENT changes the TOTAL NUMBER of MOLES of that ELEMENT or MOLECULE. . The SUBSCRIPT, however cannot be changed, as altering a SUBSCRIPT would change the MOLECULE itself. . . . . . . . #chemistry #chemistrysucks #engineering #engineeringstudent #balancingchemicalequations #apchemistry #ibchemistry #apchemistryproblems #molecules #science #technology #stem #millennialengineer #coefficient #grouping #subscripts #engineeringstudent #engineeryourfoundation #conservationofmass (at Leigh Hall)
