What does a chemical equation represent in terms of atoms?

A chemical equation serves as a concise representation of a chemical reaction, highlighting the reactants that undergo transformation and the products that are formed. The key point about a balanced chemical equation is that it reflects the conservation of mass, meaning that the total number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. This ensures that no atoms are lost or created during the reaction, only rearranged to form new substances.

By adhering to this principle, the equation demonstrates that the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products, which is a foundational concept in chemistry known as the law of conservation of mass. Therefore, the correct answer indicates that a properly balanced chemical equation will indeed show an equal number of atoms for each element both before and after the reaction occurs.