Question

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

Answer 1

`"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_5H_12 + 8O_2 rarr 5CO_2 + 6H_2O`

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

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