Chemical equations are meant to reflect the Law of Conservation of Mass, which simply states that matter cannot be destroyed or created(Vitz et al.). However, when balancing equations, when an atom is rearranged in the wrong way, you are changing the actual substance that is the end product of the reaction. For example, if an end product is actual CO2 but is left as CO, those are two very different substances. Especially since one is extremely poisonous.

When it comes to balancing the equation concerning sodium fluoride, it’s very important that the equation is balanced correctly because other by-products from those two substances can result in more toxic substances. Substances, such as sodium difluoride or sodium trifluoride, that have an excess of fluoride ions, if ingested, can be toxic. When used in a dental office, a low concentration of about 5% is used(Chu & Lo, 2008). However, exposure to too much fluoride can result in organelle disruption, inhibition of proteins, and alters in pH that can affect neurodegeneration and the endocrine system