What is a balanced chemical equation? Why should chemical equations be balanced?

Explanation

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Definition of a Balanced Chemical Equation**:
A balanced chemical equation is one where the number of atoms of each element in the reactants (left side) is equal to the number of atoms of those same elements in the products (right side). This ensures that matter is conserved during the chemical reaction.

2. **Example of Balancing a Chemical Equation**:
Consider the reaction of magnesium with oxygen:
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