Question

Can someone please explain how to balance chemical equations please...example :
__S8 +__O2 ---> __SO3 (The numbers are in subscripts.) Thanks!

Answer 1

You want to start with the most complicated compound first. In this case, it is \[SO _{3}\]Now you will want to look at how many Sulfur's are on the left side and balance it with the right side. Next you will want to look at the Oxygen and realize that there are more on the right than on the left. Now you will balance the Oxygen. For example, let's say you had the equation: \[Fe + Cl _{2} \rightarrow FeCl _{3}\]The first step is to balance the Chlorine since there is more on the right than on the left. \[Fe + 3Cl _{2} \rightarrow 2FeCl _{3}\]Now you will want to finish out by balancing Iron since there is now more on the right than on the left. You end up with: \[2Fe + 3Cl _{2} \rightarrow 2FeCl _{2}\]I hoppe this helps.