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emilyliv emilyliv
wrote...
Posts: 154
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4 years ago
My question is, does it matter what coefficients you have when balancing a chemical equation? Like for example, I got Ca3(PO4)2 + 3SiO2 + 5C = 3CaSiO3 + 5CO + 2P and it is balanced, but when I search for chemical equation generators, or the textbook they have different coefficients. I just want to make sure.
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wrote...
Educator
4 years ago
Yes and no.

Here's the thing with coefficients, generally they have to be in lowest terms. For example, if you have:

8A + 4B = 2C + 6D

This can be reduced to:

4A + 2B = 1C + 3D

The first one isn't wrong, but it's not appropriate.

Next, while it's technically acceptable to have fractions as your coefficient (in some case), it's generally frowned upon, so make sure you multiply the entire equation by some factor that will eliminate the fraction.

Back to your question, if your equation has coefficients that ARE NOT a multiple of another version - as you mentioned seeing one with different coefficients - then either you or the auto-generated equation is wrong.

I showed you above of what's acceptable, whereby both

8A + 4B = 2C + 6D
4A + 2B = 1C + 3D

... mean the same thing, except the coefficients of the first are 2 times more than that of the latter.

Hope this helps
emilyliv Author
wrote...
4 years ago
oh okay, that makes more sense, Thanks!
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