Final answer:
Sam had to mix equal parts of the two chemicals, as it is important in chemistry to maintain stoichiometric ratios derived from a balanced chemical equation to ensure mass and atoms are conserved in a reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sam had to mix equal parts of the two chemicals for the experiment. In chemistry, balancing equations is crucial because it ensures that the mass and atoms are conserved during a reaction as per the law of conservation of matter. The number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation. When mixing chemicals, it is also essential to maintain stoichiometric ratios, which are indicated by the balanced chemical equation.
For example, if a chemical equation requires mixing two substances in a 1:1 ratio, then equal parts of each must be mixed to abide by the equation. This concept is similar to mole-mass and mass-mass calculations where mole ratios derived from a balanced chemical equation are used to convert quantities from one substance to another.