Question

An unbalanced chemical equation is known as a _______ equation.

Answer 1

The representation of a chemical reaction by using symbols and formulae of the substances involved in the reaction is known as the chemical equation. The substances which are reacting together are called reactants and the new substances formed are called products.

${\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

In this equation,

• Number of atoms in LHS

Hydrogen = 2 atoms, Oxygen = 2 atoms

• Number of atoms in RHS,

Hydrogen = 2 atoms, Oxygen = 1 atom

• We can see that there is an extra atom of oxygen in LHS and the number of atoms in LHS is not equal to the number of atoms in RHS. Such an equation is an unbalanced equation and is known as a skeletal equation.

Therefore, an unbalanced chemical equation is known as a skeletal equation.