Question

State whether the following statement is true or false:

A chemical equation can be balanced easily by altering the formula of a reactant or product.

Answer 1

This statement is false.

Explanation:

In a chemical equation, the numbers preceding the compounds are called stoichiometric coefficients. The coefficients must be altered to achieve a balanced chemical equation. A chemical reaction is balanced by altering the stoichiometric coefficients rather than modifying the formulas of the reactants or products.

\[\ce{CH4 + 4Cl2 ->CCl4 + 4HCl}\]