Balance with coefficients
Change the whole numbers placed before each chemical formula until every element has the same atom count on both sides.
Free Chemistry Practice
Chemical Equation Balancing Practice
Practice balancing randomly selected chemical equations by adjusting the coefficients yourself. Compare live atom counts, request hints, and receive immediate feedback.
Start practicingChemical Equation Quiz
Balance the equation yourself
Choose a difficulty level and adjust the coefficients until every element has the same number of atoms on both sides.
Custom Practice
Insert your own equation
Enter an unbalanced equation, then adjust the coefficients yourself.
Random Practice
Adjust the coefficients
Change only the numbers in front of each compound. Do not change the chemical formulas or their subscripts.
A coefficient of 1 is normally not written, but it is shown here so you can adjust every compound.
Live Atom Count
Compare both sides
The atom counts update automatically whenever you change a coefficient.
| Element | Reactants | Products | Status |
|---|
Feedback
Adjust the coefficients, then select
Check Equation.
Balanced Equation
Correct coefficients
Coefficient Explanation
Do not change the subscripts
Subscripts are part of a compound's chemical formula. Chemical equations are balanced by changing coefficients, not subscripts.
Compare the atoms
The live atom-count table shows whether every element appears in equal amounts on the reactant and product sides.
Free Chemical Equation Balancing Practice
A balanced chemical equation follows the law of conservation of mass. The number of atoms of each element must be the same before and after the chemical reaction.
This interactive chemical equation balancing tool gives students random practice questions at easy, medium, and hard difficulty levels. Students adjust the coefficients themselves while the live atom-count table compares the reactants and products.
Random Chemical Equation Practice
Random practice gives students an opportunity to work through multiple types of chemical equations without immediately seeing the answer. Hints and feedback are available when additional guidance is needed.
Coefficients and Subscripts
A coefficient applies to the entire chemical formula that follows it. A subscript applies only to the element or group immediately before it. Only coefficients should be changed when balancing an equation.
Why Equations Must Be Balanced
Atoms are rearranged during a chemical reaction, but they are not created or destroyed. Balancing the equation accounts for every atom involved in the reaction.