In chemical equations, what numbers often appear in front of a chemical formula?

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In chemical equations, what numbers often appear in front of a chemical formula?

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Answer 1 · 2017-04-07T17:09:48

$The so-called stoichiometric coefficients............$ $"The so-called stoichiometric coefficients............"$

Explanation:

Let's examine a combustion reaction (I choose an odd-numbered alkane so that I don't have to use half-integral coefficients):

$C_{5} H_{12} + 8 O_{2} \to 5 C O_{2} + 6 H_{2} O$ $C_5H_12 + 8O_2 rarr 5CO_2 + 6H_2O$

Is this balanced? Don't trust my 'rithmetic!

The $1$ $1$ understood to be in front of the pentane, the $8$ $8$ in front of the dioxygen, the $5$ $5$ in front of the carbon dioxide, and the $6$ $6$ in front of the water, $ARE THE STOICHIOMETRIC COEFFICIENTS$ $"ARE THE STOICHIOMETRIC COEFFICIENTS"$ $OF THE REACTANTS AND THE PRODUCTS.$ $"OF THE REACTANTS AND THE PRODUCTS."$

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In chemical equations, what numbers often appear in front of a chemical formula?

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