BALANCING EQUATIONSNO2- Balancing equations made easy

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

Step 1: list all the elements neatly under the arrow

KNO

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 1

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 1

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 11

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 11 1

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 11 1

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 11 13

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

Now add up how many K N and O you have on each side

1 11 13 2 + 2 = 4

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

K and N are fineBUTO is not balanced

1 11 13 4

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

1 11 13 4

We need more O on the left hand side

We only want 1 more O

BUT we can only have 1KNO3, or 2KNO3 or 3KNO3

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O2KNO3

KNO

1 11 13 4

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

114

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

114

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

2

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

114

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

22

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

114

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

22

2 x 3 = 6

Here is an equation that needs to be balanced:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

114

Lets see what happens if we have 2KNO3 on the left

226

OK, that looks like we might be able to balance it up on the RIGHT side now

On the RIGHT we now need

1 extra K, 1 extra N and 2 extra O

Can you see how?

Try 2KNO2 on the right:

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

226

2

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

226

2

2

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

226

2

22

KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

226

2

22

2 x 2 + 2 = 6

2KNO2 + O22KNO3

KNO

226

226

That is balanced!!!!!