H3, coefficients

[Adrian C 1D]

For this question, there was a diagram that demonstrated that the answer would be 2SiH4 + 4H20 -> 2SiO2 +8H2. I got that answer but I went a step further and divided all the coefficients by 2 and got SiH4 + 2H2O -> SiO2 +4H2. However, the answer in the textbook says it is 2SiH4 + 4H20 -> 2SiO2 +8H2. I checked and both sides still seem to be balanced with my answer. Would it be better if I left it as the textbook's answer or would mine be fine?

[Duby3L]

I feel as long as your final answer follows the Law of Conservation of Mass and you have the same amount of products and reactants it should be valid, but again don't quote me on that.

[JT Wechsler 2B]

I believe that you should be fine. The textbook only says this because when you count up everything that is the whole number. I personally would have simplified it to be the lowest whole numbers as well.

[Samantha Man 1L]

I think it would be better to leave the equation as is rather than divide everything by 2 because even though the equation still remains balanced, it doesn't properly represent the number of molecules displayed in the diagram which is probably what the problem is looking for. So basically, use the textbook answer lol.

[Brandon Mo 4K]

I believe your answer would be fine because we always want to simplify the coefficients if we can. Generally, I think that it is always better to simplify the coefficients.

[Rithana Srikanth 3L]

I think you should be fine, because the equation is balanced, and it does make more sense to write the coefficients as the lowest whole numbers.

[305113590]

According to one of the module questions we have done, chemical equations are a shorthand representation of chemical reactions. I believe that it is fine to keep your simplified version because it still demonstrates what is truly happening in the reaction.

[almaochoa2D]

It depends what kind of formula it was looking for. If it's molecular you shouldn't simplify, but if it's empirical then you should simplify.