Examples of Balancing Chemical Equations

Balance the chemical equation:
Fe  + H 2SO4 -------------> Fe2(SO4)3 + H2

Steps to Balance the above equation:

1. First write down the unbalanced equation
 Fe  + H 2SO4 -------------> Fe2(SO4)3 + H2

2. In The above equation the sulphate(SO4 ) stays together , so
we can replace SO4 with X , We can rewrite the above equation as :
 Fe  + H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2

3. Let us count the number of atoms on each side of the equation:
Left hand side (L.H.S)        Right hand side (R.H.S)
   Fe =1                                           Fe = 2
   H =2                                            H =2
   X =1                                             X=3

4. First let us look at Fe , we have 1 on L.H.S and 2 on R.H.S,
so multiply Fe by 2 on L.H.S

2Fe  + H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2

5. Next let us look at X we have 1 on L.H.S and 3 on R.H.S
so multiply X by 3 on L.H.S
2Fe  + 3H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2

6. Always try to keep H and O at the end to balance.

Now let us look at H , we have 6 on the L.H.S and 2 on the R.H.S
so multiply H by 3 on the R.H.S

2Fe  + 3H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + 3H2

7.Now the equation is balanced , so we can rewrite the whole equation by replacing X by SO4

2Fe  + 3H 2SO4 -------------> Fe2(SO4)3 + 3H2