Question

Differentiate between a balanced and a skeletal chemical equation.

Answer 1

Balanced chemical equation	Skeletal chemical equation
1. The number of atoms in each element of a reactant side should be equal to the number of atoms of that element on the product side.	1. The number of atoms on the reactant side is not equal to the number of atoms on the product side.
2. Do have a stoichiometric constant.	2. Does not have a stoichiometric constant.
3. This equation is balanced.	3. This equation is not balanced.
4. It works on the laws of conservation of mass.	4. It does not work on the laws of conservation of mass.
5. It includes the physical states of the compounds involved in the reaction.	5. It doesn't include the physical states.
6. Example of the balanced chemical equation: ${\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_8\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to {\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$ Balanced equation is, ${\mathrm{C}}_3{\mathrm{H}}_8\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+5{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 3{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+4{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$	6. Example of a skeletal chemical equation $\mathrm{Mg}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to \mathrm{MgO}$