In a chemical equation, what do the coefficients indicate?

In a chemical equation, the coefficients serve as multipliers for the moles of reactants and products that are involved in the reaction. They indicate the relative amounts in which substances react and are produced. For example, if a balanced equation shows coefficients of 2 for one reactant and 3 for another, this means that for every 2 moles of the first reactant, 3 moles of the second reactant are required, and conversely, the products will be formed in a stoichiometric ratio that reflects these coefficients.

This understanding of coefficients is crucial in stoichiometry, where calculations often rely on the idea of mole ratios derived from the balanced equation. It provides insights into how much of each substance will participate in the reaction and how much product can be expected as a result.