Final answer:
The balancing of chemical equations involves ensuring that the number of each type of atom is equal on both sides of the reaction. In the given reaction for producing NH3, if the coefficient for NH3 is increased without adjusting the reactants, it appears that there are no hydrogen atoms on the left side. To balance the hydrogens, the coefficient of H2 must be adjusted.
Step-by-step explanation:
The balancing of chemical equations is an essential task in chemistry to ensure that matter is conserved, as per the Law of Conservation of Mass. In the given equation N₂ (g) + 3H₂ (g) → 2NH3 (g), we see that nitrogen (N) is balanced with one N₂ molecule reacting, while hydrogen (H) requires a coefficient of 3 for H₂ to balance the hydrogen atoms present in two NH3 molecules.
When you increase the coefficient for NH3 to balance the equation, it results in changing the number of hydrogen atoms on the product side of the equation. Since ammonia (NH3) contains three hydrogen atoms, increasing its coefficient to 2 means there are now 2 x 3 = 6 hydrogen atoms on the right side. However, without adjusting the reactants accordingly, there appear to be 0 hydrogens on the left side. To balance the hydrogens, you would need to adjust the coefficient of H₂ such that the number of hydrogens on both sides is equal. In this case, it would be 6 hydrogen atoms on both sides if the coefficient of H₂ is set to 3.
Remember, for each element, the number of atoms must be equal on both the reactant and product sides of the equation. This guarantees that mass is conserved during the reaction, aligning with fundamental chemical principles.