: Add numbers in front of formulas to equalize the atom counts. It’s often easiest to save Hydrogen and Oxygen for last.
This is because you have two oxygen atoms on the left but only one on the right. To fix it, we add coefficients:
Now, there are 4 Hydrogen atoms and 2 Oxygen atoms on both sides. The "account books" are closed, and the mass is conserved! 3 Steps to Balance Any Equation
). These tell you how many molecules of that substance are involved. You balance equations by adjusting these numbers. A Quick Example: Making Water If you look at the raw reaction for making water:
