Balancing the Chemical Equations

1. H2 + O2 H2O

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

H 2 2
O 2 1

2 H2 + O2 2 H2O

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

H 4 4
O 2 2

2H2 + O2. 2H2O

It is a balanced equation.

2. C + O2 CO2

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

C 1 1
O 2 2

C + O2 CO2

It is a balanced equation.
3. Mg + O2 MgO

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Mg 1 1
O 2 1

2 Mg + O2 2 MgO

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Mg 2 2
O 2 2

2Mg + O2. 2MgO

It is a balanced equation.

4. N2 + H2 NH3

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

N 2 1
H 2 3

N2 + 3 H2 2 NH3
 Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in
reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

N 2 2
H 6 6

N2 + 3H2. 2NH3

It is a balanced equation.

5. Na + H2O NaOH + H2

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Na 1 1
H 2 3
O 1 1

2 Na + 2 H2O 2 NaOH + H2

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Na 2 2
H 4 4
O 2 2

2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2

It is a balanced equation.
6. Zn + HCl ZnCl2 + H2

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Zn 1 1
H 1 2
Cl 1 2

Zn +2 HCl ZnCl2 + + H2

Element Number of atoms in Number of atoms in

reactants (LHS) Products (RHS)

Zn 1 1
H 2 2
Cl 2 2

Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2

It is a balanced equation.