2. 1. Check for Diatomic Molecules -
H 2 - N 2 - O 2 - F 2 - Cl 2 - Br 2 - I 2 If
these elements appear by
themselves in an equation,
they must be written with a
subscript of 2
2. Balance Metals
3. Balance Nonmetals
4. Balance Oxygen
3. 5. Balance Hydrogen
6. Recount All Atoms
– Balance equations by changing coefficients,
never by changing subscripts in formulas.
• If the atoms are not balanced at this
point, there is a problem somewhere.
Work your way back up the steps until
you find the problem, and correct it.
7. If every coefficient will reduce, rewrite in
the simplest whole-number ratio.
– An equation is not properly balanced if it is
not written in its lowest whole-number ratio
4. Practice Problems: Use the 7 steps to write
the balanced equation for each of the
following:
1.NaOH --> Na2O + H2O
2.Fe + O --> Fe2O3
3.CO2 + H2O --> C6H12O6 + O2
4.FeS + HCl --> FeCl2 + H2S
5.O + H --> H2O
6.Cl + NaI --> NaCl + I
7.Al(NO3)3 + H2SO4 --> Al2(SO4)3 + HNO3
