1) Identify all elements
2) Obtain element counts
3) Balance
a) change one coefficient at a time
b) update element counts
c) repeat until balanced
4) double check balance
EXAMPLES: H
2 + O
2 --> H
2O
"which equals" 2H
2 + O
2 --> 2H
2O
HNO
3 + Mg(OH)
2 --> Mg(NO
3)
2 + H
2O
"which equals" 2HNO
3 + Mg(OH)
2 --> Mg(NO
3)
2 + 2H
2O