What does it mean for a chemical equation to be balanced?

a. The number of atoms is the same for both the reactants and products.

b. The number of each type of atom is the same for both the reactants and products.

c. The number of different molecules has to be the same for both the reactants and products.

Question

Biology

Jakob Hayden

17 December, 23:07

What does it mean for a chemical equation to be balanced?

a. The number of atoms is the same for both the reactants and products.

b. The number of each type of atom is the same for both the reactants and products.

c. The number of different molecules has to be the same for both the reactants and products.

+5

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Danny Walls · Answer 1

b. The number of each type of atom is the same for both the reactants and products.

Explanation:

A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction where the reactants are written on the left side and the products on the right side. According to the law of conservation of mass, no atoms can be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, therefore, the number of atoms in the reactant has to balance the number of atoms in the products (for each element).

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Alessandra Perkins · Answer 2

b. The number of each type of atom is the same for both the reactants and products.

Explanation:

A balanced chemical equation is characterized by each of the atoms of the reactants and the products being equal to each other. The atoms present in the reactants are also present in the products but are just rearranged. The equal number of atoms from both sides of the equation (reactants and products) follow the Law of Conservation of Mass.