What is the Difference Between Balanced Equation and Skeleton Equation?

The main difference between a balanced equation and a skeleton equation lies in the conservation of mass and the stoichiometric coefficients. Here are the key differences:

Balanced Equation:

1. Follows the law of conservation of mass, ensuring that the number of atoms of each element in the reactants is equal to the number of atoms of the same element in the products.
2. Has stoichiometric coefficients, which are the small whole numbers written before the chemical formulas in a balanced equation.
3. Provides the actual number of molecules of each substance involved in the reaction.

Example of a balanced equation: $$2{H2}(g) + {O2}(g) \to 2{H_2}O(l)$$.

Skeleton Equation:

1. Does not follow the law of conservation of mass, meaning that the number of atoms on the reactant side is not equal to the number of atoms on the product side.
2. Does not have stoichiometric coefficients.
3. Represents a general chemical reaction without specifying the exact number of molecules of each substance.

Example of a skeleton equation: $${H2}(g) + {O2}(g) \to {H_2}O(l)$$.

In summary, a balanced equation gives the actual number of molecules of each substance involved in a reaction and follows the law of conservation of mass, while a skeleton equation provides a general representation of a chemical reaction without specifying the exact number of molecules and does not follow the law of conservation of mass.

Comparative Table: Balanced Equation vs Skeleton Equation

Here is a table comparing balanced equations and skeleton equations:

The key difference between a balanced equation and a skeleton equation is that a balanced equation provides the actual number of molecules of each reactant and product, while a skeleton equation only shows the reactants without specifying the actual number of molecules or the products formed.