To balance a chemical equation: 1. Make an element inventory of the atoms on each side of the equation. 2. Adjust coefficients as needed to make the number of each element equal on both sides. 3. For the example equation, placing coefficients of 2 in front of NaOH and H2O balanced the numbers of each element on both sides.

1. Balancing EquationsBy Taylor Reeves & Chris Trotzuk

2. Step OneNaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+ H2OHave an unbalanced equation.

3. Step TwoNaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+ H2OIt helps to draw boxes around each separate chemical formula so nothing gets mixed up. However, this step is not necessary.

4. Step ThreeNaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+ H2ONext you should make what is called an ‘element inventory’. List all the elements, the number of atoms on the left side of the equation, as well as the number of atoms on the right side.

5. Step Four2NaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+ H2OIn this example, you start by putting a 2 in front of ‘NaOH’. This changes ‘Na’ to 2, ‘O’ to 6, ‘H’ to 4, and ‘S’ stays at 1.

6. Step Five2NaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+2H2ONow to balance the equation, place a 2 in front of ‘H2O’. This makes the right side of the equation the same as the left side.

7. Congratulations!2NaOH + H2 SO4-> Na2SO4+2H2ONow you have a balanced equation!