Which of the following is true for balancing equations? a. the number of products should be equal to the number of reactants. b. the properties of products should be the same as the properties of reactants. c. there must be as equal number of compounds on both sides of the equation. d. there must be as equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

D.) There must be an equal number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation

The correct answer is Option D.

Explanation:

Law of conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another.

In a chemical reaction, total mass on the reactant side is equal to the total mass on the product side.

It can also be stated that total number of individual atoms on the reactant side must be equal to the total number of individual atoms on product side.

For Example: Formation of water from hydrogen and oxygen gas.

On reactant side:

Number of Hydrogen atoms = 4

Number of Oxygen atoms = 2

On product side:

Number of Hydrogen atoms = 4

Number of Oxygen atoms = 2

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.