Guidelines:

a. Once the right chemical formula for a compound is written within an equation, do not change it.

b. Select the compound along with the greatest number of atoms. Then start through balancing the element in which compound along with the most atoms.  There must be the similar number of atoms of an element on every side of the equation. As a rule of thumb, this first element should not be oxygen, hydrogen, or a polyatomic ion.

c. Balance the atoms of every element in the compound through placing the suitable coefficient within front of the chemical symbol or formula.

d. Further, balance the polyatomic ions.  In many cases, the coefficient assigned within guideline 2 might have to be modified to balance the polyatomic ion.

e. Balance the hydrogen atoms following, then the oxygen atoms.  If these elements appear in the polyatomic ion it should not be essential to balance them again.

f. All coefficients will be whole numbers. Coefficients should be decreased to the lowest possible ratios.

g. As simple as it sounds, check off each element as it is accounted for because this will avoid double addition or a missed atom.