Question

Which information is not conveyed by a balanced chemical equation?

• A. Physical states of reactants and products.
• B. Symbols and formulae of all the substances involved in a particular reaction.
• C. The number of atoms/molecules of the reactants and products involved.
• D. Whether a particular reaction is possible or not.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Whether a particular reaction is possible or not.

The explanation for the correct option.

(D) Whether a particular reaction is possible or not.

Balanced equation

1. The physical state of reactants and products is expressed in a properly balanced chemical equation.
2. A balanced equation shows symbols and formulae of all the substances involved in a particular chemical reaction.
3. It also shows the number of atoms/molecules of the reactants and products involved in the reaction.
4. It does not show the feasibility of a chemical reaction.

Example - $$\begin{gathered} 3\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+4{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{Fe}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_4\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+4{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Iron}\right)\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)(\mathrm{Iron}(\mathrm{II})(\mathrm{Hydrogen}) \\ \mathrm{Oxide}) \end{gathered}$$

The explanation for the incorrect options.

(A) Physical states of reactants and products.

In the reaction given above, we can clearly see that iron is in a solid-state, water is in a gaseous state, and so on. So a balanced equation does convey the physical state of both the reactants and products.

(B) Symbols and formulae of all the substances involved in a particular reaction.

1. A balanced equation conveys the formula and symbol for all the substances involved.
2. For example - Iron (II) oxide is written as $\left({\mathrm{Fe}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_4\right)$, that conveys all the symbols and the correct formula of the compound.

(C) The number of atoms/molecules of the reactants and products involved.

1. A balanced equation also conveys the number of atoms and molecules in a reaction.
2. For example - 3 molecules of iron are involved in the reaction above as conveyed in the balanced equation.

Therefore, a balanced equation does not show whether a particular reaction is actually possible or not and option (D) is the correct option.