What term is used to describe the ratio of reactants to products in a chemical equation?

The term that is used to describe the ratio of reactants to products in a chemical equation is stoichiometry. This concept is fundamental in chemistry because it allows chemists to predict the quantities of substances involved in a reaction based on the balanced chemical equation.

Stoichiometry derives from the Greek words 'stoicheion' (element) and 'metron' (measure), and it involves calculating the relationships between reactants and products in terms of moles, mass, and volume. By using stoichiometric coefficients, which are the numbers in front of the chemical formulas in a balanced equation, chemists can determine how much of each reactant is needed to produce a certain amount of product, or vice versa.

Understanding stoichiometry is crucial for performing calculations in chemical reactions, whether in laboratory settings or industrial applications, as it provides a mathematical framework for quantifying the changes that occur during those reactions.