Answer: To multiply the coefficients and subscripts of a chemical equation, we use a process called balancing the equation. This involves changing the coefficients of the reactants and products in such a way that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
For the given equation, 4 HCl + 4 NaOH = ?, we can first write the unbalanced equation with the coefficients and subscripts:
4 HCl + 4 NaOH → ?
To balance this equation, we need to determine the correct coefficients to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. We can start with the number of hydrogen atoms, since it appears only once on each side of the equation.
On the left side, we have 4 H atoms, and on the right side, we have 4 H atoms (from the NaOH). Therefore, the hydrogen atoms are already balanced.
Next, we can balance the chlorine and sodium atoms. On the left side, we have 4 Cl and 4 Na atoms, and on the right side, we have 4 Na and 4 Cl atoms (from the NaOH and HCl, respectively). Therefore, we need to add a coefficient of 4 to NaOH to balance the equation:
4 HCl + 4 NaOH → 4 NaCl + 4 H2O
Now, we have balanced the equation with the correct coefficients and subscripts.
Step-by-step explanation: