coefficient and subscript question

Question

This will be a double displacement/neutralization reaction. It is written as follows:
H3PO4 + 3LiOH ==> Li3PO4 + 3H2O as a BALANCED EQUATION.


so why does the coefficient in 3lioh go as a subscript and not a coefficient in the product LI3PO4 thanks

Answer 1

I tried to explain this in a previous Q/A but let me try again.

The 3H's in H3PO4 react with the OH's in LiOH but it takes 3 LiOH to react with the 3H's in H3PO4.  Put another way, it takes 3OH(from LiOH) to react with ONE H3PO4.  The coeffecients are used to balance the equationl