Question

(Same question as the one below...thats because it was mine ;D)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

SO3

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+Cl2→FeCl3

The first step is to balance the Chlorine since there is more on the right than on the left.

Fe+3Cl2→2FeCl3

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+3Cl2→2FeCl2

I hope this helps.