Stoichiometric coefficients

Stoichiometric coefficients are numbers placed in front of chemical formulas in an equation to indicate the exact proportions of each substance involved in a reaction. They ensure the law of conservation of mass is maintained, meaning atoms are neither created nor destroyed. For example, in the reaction 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O, the coefficients 2 and 1 show how many molecules of hydrogen and oxygen are needed to produce a specific amount of water. These coefficients help chemists balance equations, so the quantities of reactants and products correspond correctly.