What is meant by a balanced chemical equation?

• Chemical equation:

$\mathrm{Reactants}\to \mathrm{Products}$

In a balanced equation total number of atoms of an element on the reactants, side is equal to the total number of atoms of an element on the product side.

• The balanced equation is:

$2\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{MgO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)$

Magnesium Oxygen Magnesium oxide

Element Reactant side Product side

$\mathrm{Mg}$ $2$ $2$

$\mathrm{O}$ $2$ $2$

Here we can see the number of atoms of $\mathrm{Mg}$ and $\mathrm{O}$ are equal on the reactant and product side.