CGTC FAQs: Academic Support

For balancing equations, you count the number of atoms in each element. Let’s breakdown what needs to balanced first. First, you would have to balance the metals first. Second, after the metals are balanced you then have to balance the non-metals next. Once those two are balanced you then balance hydrogen and lastly you balance oxygen. Keep in mind that you never change the subscripts when balancing chemical equations. Also, the reactants go on the left-hand side and the products go on the right-hand side of the equation. A tip would be is to begin with elements that appear to be an only one molecule. If an element has an even number of atoms on one side and an add one on the other. You would have to multiply the molecule with the odd number by a coefficient to make it even.