Question

What would changing a subscript in a correctly written chemical formula do?

Answer 1

Well it would make it incorrect.......

Explanation:

Chemical reactions `"CONSERVE CHARGE"`, and `"CONSERVE MASS"`. This follows the principle of stoichiometry: garbage in invariably equal garbage out.

If the equation, the REPRESENTATION of a chemical equation, does not balance mass and charge, then we can reject the equation as a representation of reality.

And thus, which of the following equations is WRONG?

`CH_4(g) + 2O_2(g) rarr CO_2(g) + 2H_2O(g)`

VERSUS

`C_2H_6(g) + 4O_2(g) rarr 2CO_2(g) + 3H_2O(g)`