How to Balance Chemical Equations

According to the rules of chemistry, matter must be conserved in chemical reactions. When you balance a chemical equation, you account for all of the matter in the reaction.

Step 1: Count the number of atoms of each type
Determine how many atoms of each type are on each side of the equation.

Tip
List the numbers of each atom for the left side and for the right side.

Step 2: Find a starting element
Find an element that is in only one compound on the left side and in only one on the right side of the equation.

Tip
Start with an atom other than oxygen or hydrogen. Oxygen and hydrogen atoms are usually in more than one compound on either side of an equation, so they are best left to last.

Step 3: Balance the equation for the first element
Multiply the chemical compound on the side that has less atoms of that type by the number required to achieve the same value on the other side.

Step 4: Continue balancing
Select another element or compound that is not balanced and balance it.

Step 5: Repeat as necessary
Repeat this process until the equation is completely balanced.

Step 6: Clear any fractions
Eliminate any fractions in the balanced equation by multiplying through by the denominator of the fraction.

Did You Know?
Parisian scientist Jean Beguin wrote the first chemistry textbook in 1610.

[SpiritowlTV]

Thanks. That just opened my mine to chemistry and made it that much easier

[Richenzo_]

My teacher did not explain about the fraction and getting the denominator and adding it to the element equation or whatever, it kinda confused me, but I feel like I get it

[Fermium]

@kmm1765 there were twice as many oxygen atoms on the reactants side as on the products side, so she multiplied the whole thing by two.

[lauryn_talks]

Thanks For The Tips :) This helps along with the other videos here on youtube :)

[goshiluvarchie]

Thanks, I wasn't told about that O and H tip.

[PunkRocker]

OH THANK GOD! now i can finish my homework! Thanks!

[Raidenfenix]

HowCast needs to make another video...

How to understand "How to" Videos.

[limhyunjung]

I'm having trouble and this doesn't even help... AT ALL!!!

[verdodragon]

wow. to think i couldnt get this right for an entire semester and i learned it in 1 minutes and 33 seconds...

[kmm]

where do you get 1/2 in there??? pls. answer my

[SaraWithoutTheH]

I don't understand... where did the 7/2 come from when balancing O?

[RyomaFujiTezuka]

everybody should be able to know this one

[victorias]

I found the loud music very distracting and I couldn't hear what she was saying

[sampill]

@ooCASSARoo No appropriate I am the lead cordinate of MIG university and I take this very serious physics. Regards Mr Weesly

[AJsty]

is she ordering a pizza with two cans of coke??

[Rhyperiority]

I completely understand this but I can understand why others don't. Maybe I should start making videos on how to do stuff. These methods on youtube suck.

[OmgThisGuy]

wish i had this when i was back in high school...

[AWC]

This video is more complex than what my teacher taught in class... O.o

[antoniqueli]

i think you should slow down that was really hard for anyone to understand, even when you added 7/2 that was the most confusing part.

[lucyedinburgh]

Thanks, I'd forgotten how to do that ♪