Question

If the sum of the coefficients of reactants is equal to \(5,\) is the sum of the coefficients of products equal to \(5 ?\)

Short answer

Yes, if the equation is balanced, the sum of products' coefficients equals 5.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Question

We need to determine if the sum of the coefficients of the products in a chemical reaction is equal to 5, given that the sum of the coefficients of the reactants is 5.

The Law of Conservation of Mass

According to the law of conservation of mass, in a balanced chemical equation, the mass of the reactants must equal the mass of the products. This implies the number of moles (coefficients) of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation.

Relationship Between Coefficients

When a chemical equation is balanced, it means the coefficients are arranged to satisfy the conservation laws. Therefore, if the sum of the coefficients on the reactant side equals 5, the sum on the product side must also equal 5.

Conclusion

Thus, based on the information and conservation laws, if a reaction is balanced and the sum of the reactants' coefficients is 5, then the sum of the products' coefficients must also equal 5.

Key concepts

Coefficients

In the world of chemistry, coefficients are crucial when writing chemical equations. A coefficient is simply a number placed in front of a chemical formula within a chemical equation. This number indicates how many moles of a substance are involved in the reaction. Understanding coefficients is important because they communicate the proportion of molecules or atoms in a reaction.

For example, in the equation \(2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O\), the coefficient "2" for \(H_2\) tells us that two moles of hydrogen gas react with one mole of oxygen gas to produce two moles of water. Coefficients ensure that the equation reflects the quantity and ratio needed to adhere to the principle of the law of conservation of mass.

Law of Conservation of Mass

The law of conservation of mass is a fundamental principle in chemistry. It states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. This means that the mass of the reactants in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the products.

In terms of chemical equations, this principle ensures that the number and type of atoms are the same on both sides of the equation. If we think of a chemical equation as a balance, the total mass (or number of moles) on the reactant side must equal the total mass on the product side. This is why balancing chemical equations is so important. It reflects the reality described by the conservation of mass, making sure that no atoms are "lost" or "gained" during the reaction.

Balanced Equations

A chemical equation is said to be balanced when the numbers of each type of atom on the reactant side match the numbers on the product side. Balancing equations is essential to correctly model chemical reactions and is accomplished by adjusting the coefficients.

Here are some important points about balanced equations:

• They reflect the true stoichiometry of the reaction, ensuring mass conservation.
• Balanced equations tell us the proportions in which reactants combine and the products form.
• They follow the law of conservation of mass by requiring equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation.

For the exercise you encountered, if the sum of coefficients for reactants is 5, the sum for the products must also be 5 to maintain the balance required by chemical reactions. This illustrates the conservation of mass and ensures no atoms are unaccounted for in the reaction.