What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-02T19:57:31

In Chemistry the coefficient is the number in front of the formula.
The coefficient tells us how many molecules of a given formula are present.

Like Algebra the Coefficient is the number in front of the variable terms.

$4x^2y$ The coefficient is $4$

In Chemistry the coefficient is the number in front of the formula.
The coefficient tells us how many molecules of a given formula are present.

$2H_2O$ means we have $2$ molecules of water

In the balanced chemical equation for Ammonia

$N_2 + 3H_2 -> 2NH_3$

We know we have coefficients of
$1$ for $N_2$
$3$ for $H_2$
and
$2$ for $NH_3$

It takes $1$ molecule of $N_2$ with $3$ molecules of $H_2$ to produce $2$ molecules of $NH_3$