Answer to Question #277071 in General Chemistry for dezzo

Question

The number placed in front of a formula is called a coefficient.  The small number within a chemical formula is called a subscript.  Why do we adjust coefficients when balancing chemical equations and not subscripts?

Answer 1

There are two types of numbers that appear in chemical equations. There are subscripts, which are part of the chemical formulas of the reactants and products; and there are coefficients that are placed in front of the formulas to indicate how many molecules of that substance is used or produced.