Balaning Equations:

What is the first step to writing a chemical equation?

Identify the reactants and products and write the unbalanced equation with reactants on the left and products on the right.

How do you count atoms in a chemical equation?

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

What is the order of balancing elements in a chemical equation?

Balance metals first, then nonmetals (excluding H and O), followed by hydrogen, and finally oxygen.

Which atoms do you balance last in a chemical equation?

Balance oxygen atoms last.

What should you do to ensure the coefficients in a balanced equation are correct?

Reduce to the simplest whole number ratio.

Why is it important to verify a balanced equation?

To double-check that the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides.