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Course: Science — Second Preparatory
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The Chemical Equation

Science — Second Preparatory

The Chemical Equation

Common mistakes

Common mistakes

Comparison aspectMain ideaExampleKeywords
Mistakechanging subscripts to balance an equationwriting H₂O₂ instead of H₂O. Correct: change only the coefficientschangingsubscriptsbalanceequation
Mistake
  • forgetting to count the oxygen atoms on both sides. Correct: count every element
  • including oxygen in all the formulas
—forgettingcountoxygenatoms
Mistakethinking that the coefficient multiplies only the first atom of the formula. Correct: the coefficient multiplies every atom in the formula—thinkingcoefficientmultipliesfirst
Mistakethinking that an equation is complete as soon as the reactants and products are written. Correct: an equation is scientifically complete only when it is balanced—thinkingequationcompletesoon
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