Balancing Chemical Equations Calculator

Balancing chemical equations calculator automatically balances the chemical equations by adjusting the coefficients of reactants and products to ensure the conservation of atoms.

Once balanced, it ensures that the atoms for each element will remain equal on both sides of the chemical equation.

How to Use This Balancing Chemical Equations Calculator?

• Use the given Periodic Table to add the chemical equation that you need to balance
• Click “Balance”
• The calculator balances the equation by showing all coefficient proportions. Also, separate molecules and atoms contained within the given equation

What Is a Balanced Chemical Equation?

A balanced chemical equation is a representation of a chemical reaction that shows the exact numbers of atoms or molecules involved in the reaction on both the reactant and product sides. 

It ensures that the fundamental law of conservation of mass is maintained, which states that the quantity of each element is the same before and after the reaction occurs.

This balancing process involves applying principles of stoichiometry, where the coefficients in the balanced equation not only represent the relative amounts of reactants and products but also convey the mole ratios between them.

How to Balance Chemical Equations?

An unbalanced chemical equation could be balanced by following these steps:

1. Count the atoms on both sides of the equation.
2. Adjust the numbers (coefficients) in front of one substance.
3. Count the atoms again.
4. Repeat the second step: Adjust the coefficients until the number of atoms is the same on both sides. 

That's how you balance the equation!

Example:

Let's balance the equation for the combustion of methane (CH4) with oxygen (O2) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

The unbalanced equation is:

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O

Now, we count the atoms on each side:

• Carbon (C): 1 on the left, 1 on the right
• Hydrogen (H): 4 on the left, 2 on the right
• Oxygen (O): 2 on the left, 3 on the right

To balance the equation:

Start by balancing the carbons first: 

As we see number of atoms of carbon is already balanced in the above unbalanced equation.

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + H2O
↑                    ↑
Balanced

Now, the carbons are balanced, but the hydrogens and oxygens are not.

To balance hydrogen, add a coefficient of 2 in front of H2O:

CH4 + O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
                                 ↑
Balanced

Finally, check and balance the oxygens by adding a coefficient of 2 in front of O2:

CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
           ↑
Balanced

So, the equation is balanced now with the same number of each type of atom on both sides. You can verify these results with our chemical equation balancer.

Chemical Equations Before and After Balance: