In the balanced chemical equation, below, determine what the coefficient and the subscript represent in 6H2O.

Question

Choose ALL the answers that are correct.



a
The 6 coefficient represents 6 atoms in each water molecule.
b
The 2 subscript represents 2 atoms in each water molecule.
c
The 6 coefficient represents 6 molecules of water.
d
The 2 subscript represents 2 water molecules.

Answer 1

In the expression \(6H_2O\), the coefficient and the subscript have specific meanings:

• The coefficient (6) indicates how many molecules are present.
• The subscript (2) indicates how many atoms of hydrogen are present in each water molecule.

Now, let's evaluate the options:

a. The 6 coefficient represents 6 atoms in each water molecule.
Incorrect - The coefficient represents the number of molecules, not atoms.

b. The 2 subscript represents 2 atoms in each water molecule.
Correct - The subscript indicates that there are 2 hydrogen atoms in each water molecule.

c. The 6 coefficient represents 6 molecules of water.
Correct - The coefficient indicates that there are 6 molecules of water.

d. The 2 subscript represents 2 water molecules.
Incorrect - The subscript represents the number of hydrogen atoms in each water molecule, not the number of water molecules.

So, the correct answers are: b and c.