Balancing Equations
Step 1
• Write the skeleton equation.
Step 2
• Balance each element by placing coefficients
in front of the chemical formulas.
• Balance in this order:
– metals
– non-metals
– hydrogen
– oxygen last
“M”et a “n”on “h”airy “o”xen
Step 3
• Select coefficients that will give the same
number of atoms on each side of the
equation.
• If you have an odd number of oxygen atoms,
multiply the coefficient by 2 first to make it an
even number. Then try to balance the
equation.
Step 4
• Check all other elements to see whether the
equation is balanced.
• Other elements may have become
unbalanced.
• Make adjustments to balance all the
elements.
Tips for Balancing Hydrocarbons
• If you have a hydrocarbon reaction such that
when you divide the subscript for the number
of hydrogens by two and the answer is odd or
a fraction, then first start the balancing
process out by making the hydrocarbon’s
coefficient two.
• Ex: 2 C2H6 +7O2  4 CO2 + 6 H2O
(6 ÷ 2 = 3, therefore multiply the hydrocarbon by
2 before balancing.)
Next, balance the CO2, then H2O, then O2.
Balance these equations.

1.
HgO
2.
Mg
3.
KClO3

4.
AgNO3 +
H2S 
+
O2
Hg +

O2
MgO
KCl +
O2
Ag2S + HNO3
Balance these equations.
5. Al(OH)3 +
H2SO4 
Al2(SO4)3 +
H2O
6. Zn(OH)2 +
H3PO4 
Zn3(PO4)2 +
H2O
7. FeCl3
NaOH

+
Fe(OH)3 +
NaCl
8. 2C3H6O3 +
 6 CO2
+ 6 H2O
6 O2
Begin your Balancing worksheet-finish for hw