Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table›1a. Atoms, Elements, Compounds and Mixtures›Balancing Chemical Equations
Lesson 05 of 14
Balancing Chemical Equations
Key Concepts
- Law of Conservation of Mass
- Balanced chemical equations
- Reactants and products
- Coefficients
- Atom counting
- Combustion equations
- Symbol equations
Checking the Basics
If you're watching this video as part of your chemistry course, then you might find it helpful to be able to answer these questions before continuing.
Name this element: Co+
Cobalt
Which elements are present in this compound: CO+
Carbon and Oxygen
Which is the correct chemical formula for water? a) H₂0 b) H2O c) H₂O+
c) H₂O
Lesson notes
If balancing equations feels like guesswork, this video gives you a method that turns it into a systematic process. You'll start with the Law of Conservation of Mass, understand why equations must balance, and then work through a series of examples from simple single-step reactions to combustion equations — building confidence and speed as you go.
What You Will Learn
00:54What the Law of Conservation of Mass states and why it requires equations to be balanced.
02:16What coefficients are and how they differ from subscripts when balancing equations.
04:26How to count atoms on each side of an equation to check whether it is balanced.
05:50How to balance a simple equation step by step using the atom-counting method.
10:59How to balance combustion equations where both carbon and hydrogen must be balanced.
12:35How to check a final equation by counting every atom type on both sides and confirming they match.