Why Some Chemical Equations Show Fractional Coefficients?

The most acceptable way to show balanced chemical equations is using the simplest whole number coefficients .  These coefficients represent...

The most acceptable way to show balanced chemical equations is using the simplest whole number coefficients.  These coefficients represent the mole ratio of the reactants and products.

Fractional coefficients in balanced chemical equations are unusual, but often used as a temporary step to achieve the simplest whole number coefficients.  Sometimes, using fractions can make balancing easier, especially when dealing with complex equations.  In fact, the fractional coefficients accurately represent the mole ratios of the reactants and products.  Therefore, calculations performed using fractional coefficients yield correct results, just like having the simplest whole number.

Chemical equations balanced with fractions can be multiplied by a common denominator to convert all coefficients to whole numbers.

While fractional coefficients are useful for balancing equations, they're usually not the final answer. The goal is to obtain whole number coefficients that represent the actual number of molecules or moles involved in the reaction.