Education
Chemical Equation Balancer
Balance any chemical equation automatically. Enter reactants and products separated by + and -> (or =), get the balanced coefficients with full work shown. Uses linear algebra to find smallest integer solutions.
Balanced equation
—
—
Element balance check
| Element | Left side | Right side | Balanced? |
|---|
Coefficients
How balancing works
A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides — the Law of Conservation of Mass. You can only change coefficients (the big numbers in front), never subscripts (the small numbers in formulas).
This calculator builds a system of linear equations (one per element) and solves for the smallest positive integer coefficients that balance every element simultaneously.
Tips
- Combustion: most hydrocarbons + O2 yield CO2 + H2O. Try CH4 + O2 = CO2 + H2O.
- Balance metals and non-oxygen non-hydrogen first when balancing by hand.
- Save oxygen and hydrogen for last — they appear in many compounds.
- If you get fractions (like 5/2), multiply the whole equation by the denominator.
FAQ
Why use this in chemistry class? +
Balancing is foundational for stoichiometry — figuring out how much product you get from any amount of reactant. Every chemistry test has at least one balancing question.
What if my equation cannot be balanced? +
Either the reaction is impossible (mass not conserved), or you typed something wrong. Common errors: missing subscripts (NaCl not NaCl2), wrong oxidation states, or polyatomic ions written incorrectly.
Are there reactions this won't handle? +
Redox half-reactions with electrons (e-) and ions need separate balancing for charge as well as atoms. This calc focuses on net molecular equations.
Parentheses and brackets? +
Supported — Ca(OH)2 means Ca + 2 O + 2 H. Square brackets work too.