Question

Which coloured entity can be changed to balance the chemical reaction?

• A. Entities in green
• B. Entities in red
• C. Entities in both red and green
• D. None of the colour

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Entities in green

The entities in green and red are called as coefficients and subscripts respectively.

Subscripts of a chemical formula represent a number of atoms in the compound, changing these would result in the formation of the new compound. So these should not be changed while balancing chemical reaction.

Example: Consider water $H_2{O}_1$ , the subscript of Hydrogen is 2 and of Oxygen is 1. If subscript of Oxygen is changed to 2 i.e. $H_2{O}_2$ will result in new compound Hydrogen peroxide.

Coefficients represent the number of molecules involved in the chemical reaction. Changing these would not change the composition of the compound. So only these can be changed to balance the reaction.

Example: $H_{2}O$ represent 1 molecule of water.

$2H_{2}O$ represents 2 molecules of water.