can they be in the same equation or do they have to be separate?

I'm not even sure I understand the question.

The balanced equation contains everything about the stoichiometry of the reaction. The skeleton equation isn't usually balanced and may, possibly, not contain all of the reactants.

I would normally think that the balanced equation contains everything and, therefore, contains the skeleton. But I'm not sure if that's what your instructor thinks.

You can have a balanced skeleton equation. Personally, I like to make two separate equations, both balanced.

The balanced equation contains everything about the stoichiometry of the reaction. The skeleton equation isn't usually balanced and may, possibly, not contain all of the reactants.

Hmm, not always in the case of organic reactions, where skeletal formulae are used. Because of the possible isomers, you can have different types of reaction. For example, methoxy methane and ethanol have the same molecular formula, but react differently to a carboxylic acid.

And if you have a long chain hydrocarbon, with many different functional groups, a skeleton equation gives a better 'view' of what is happening.

So the "skeletal equation" means the structural diagrams. OK. I can buy that. I've just never heard of them being called "skeleton" equations.

In fact, I'm not sure if it's called skeleton equation either... Maybe a typo from the OP and I thought it was called as such. However, I'm sure about the skeletal formulae.

Something's slow with this site today.

Lol, I'm the slow one :p I'm on multiple boards! :eek: