Struggling with one coefficient! Please help!?

Question

The book says this is the balanced euqation:

6 NaHCO3 --> 3 Na2CO3 + 3 H2O + 3 CO2

For this equation, couldn't the coefficients also be:

2 NaHCO3 --> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

I counted the elements and they balance for both, or am I wrong? Or is this one of the proportional ones where both answers are correct because the 2nd one is using the lowest integers?

Answer 1

Both are correct, but the one with simplified coefficients is *more* correct.  According to wikipedia, the decomposition of Sodium Bicarbonate is 2 NaHCO3 + heat → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

Answer 2

You are not wrong.

The second equation is the same divided by 3