If the amount of atoms of each type on the left and right sides of a reaction differs, what must be done to balance it?

Question

Responses

Coefficients are placed in front of the reactants and/or products.
Coefficients are placed in front of the reactants and/or products.

It should be left alone.
It should be left alone.

Subscripts are placed in the chemical formulas.
Subscripts are placed in the chemical formulas.

Superscripts are placed in the chemical formulas.

Answer 1

To balance a chemical reaction when the number of atoms of each type on the left and right sides differs, coefficients are placed in front of the reactants and/or products. This alters the number of molecules of each substance without changing the actual chemical formulas.

So, the correct response is:

Coefficients are placed in front of the reactants and/or products.