Is the number of total molecules on the left side of a balanced equation always equal to the number of total molecules on the right side of the equation

No, the number of total molecules on the left side of a balanced equation is not equal to the number of total molecules on the right side of the equation. A molecule is the smallest number of atoms bonded together for a chemical reaction. The total number of atoms must be the same, but not molecules. The reactants and products will bond together in different ways leading to different numbers of reactants and products

Step-by-step explanation:

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No

Explanation:

No, but the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products to be a balanced equation.

Example: Consider the following reaction ...

3H₂ + N₂ => 2NH₃ and 'amu' is atomic mass units (formula weights from periodic table)

In terms of molecules, there are 4 molecules on the left (3 molecular hydrogens (H₂) and 1 molecular nitrogen (N₂) and 2 molecules of ammonia on the right side of equation arrow. ∑reactant molecules ≠ ∑product molecules.

In terms of mass of reactants & mass of products, the 3H₂ + N₂ => 6amu + 28amu = 34amu & mass of products (2NH₃) => 2(14amu) + 6(1amu) = 34amu for sum of product masses.

∑mass reactants = ∑mass products <=> 34amu = 34amu.

The expression '∑mass reactants = ∑mass products' as applied to chemical equations is generally known as 'The Law of Mass Balance'.