O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O = K = = Cl = = O =

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O 1. Count the number of atoms of each element before the reaction and after the reaction. 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O 2. Look at the first element (K)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? YES 3. Look at the second element (Cl)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O 4. Look at the third element (O)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O 4. Look at the third element (O)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? NO 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O 4. Look at the third element (O)…is it balanced before and after the reaction? NO 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2

O K Cl KClO3 KCl + O2 K Cl O What do you have to do to make the same number of oxygen atoms on both sides? Try changing the number of O2 molecules after the reaction…try 2 of ‘em 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2

O K Cl O KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O What do you have to do to make the same number of oxygen atoms on both sides? Try changing the number of O2 molecules after the reaction…try 2 of ‘em 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2

O K Cl O KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O What do you have to do to make the same number of oxygen atoms on both sides? Try changing the number of O2 molecules…try 2 of ‘em 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O Now is oxygen balanced on both sides? NO So now you need more oxygen atoms before the reaction…try 2 Potassium Chlorate molecules 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O 2KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O Now is oxygen balanced on both sides? NO So now you need more oxygen atoms before the reaction…try 2 Potassium Chlorate molecules 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O 2KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O That changes the number of oxygen atoms to 6 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O 2KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O That changes the number of oxygen atoms to 6... 1 = K = 1 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 But it also changes the number of Potassium atoms (K) and Chlorine atoms (Cl)…so you better change those numbers too...

O K Cl O K Cl O 2KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O That changes the number of oxygen atoms to 6... 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 But it also changes the number of Potassium atoms (K) and Chlorine atoms (Cl)…so you better change those numbers too...

O K Cl O K Cl O 2KClO3 KCl + 2O2 K Cl O The oxygen is still not balanced…you will need to have more oxygen atoms after the reaction…try three of those O2 molecules 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O O 2KClO3 KCl + 3O2 K Cl O The oxygen is still not balanced…you will need to have more oxygen atoms after the reaction…try three of those O2 molecules 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O O 2KClO3 KCl + 3O2 K Cl O That changes the number of oxygen atoms to 6 after the reaction... 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4

O K Cl O K Cl O O 2KClO3 KCl + 3O2 K Cl O That changes the number of oxygen atoms to 6 after the reaction... 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 6

O K Cl O K Cl O O 2KClO3 KCl + 3O2 K Cl O Finally!!! Oxygen is balanced. But you must go back to make sure everything else is still balanced. As you can see, however, it is not… Balance the potassium (K) by considering 2 molecules of KCl... 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 6

O K Cl O K Cl K Cl O O 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 K Cl O Finally!!! Oxygen is balanced. But you must go back to make sure everything else is still balanced. As you can see, however, it is not… Balance the potassium (K) by considering 2 molecules of KCl... 2 1 = K = 1 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 6

O K Cl O K Cl K Cl O O 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 K Cl O So That changes the number of potassium atoms to 2 after the reaction... 2 1 = K = 1 2 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 6 …

O K Cl O K Cl K Cl O O 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 K Cl O So That changes the number of potassium atoms to 2 after the reaction... 2 1 = K = 1 2 2 1 = Cl =1 6 3 = O = 2 4 6 …but it also changes the number of chlorine atoms to 2 after the reaction.

O K Cl O K Cl K Cl O O 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 K Cl O So That changes the number of potassium atoms to 2 after the reaction... 2 1 = K = 1 2 2 1 = Cl =1 2 6 3 = O = 2 4 6 …but it also changes the number of chlorine atoms to 2 after the reaction.

O K Cl O K Cl K Cl O O 2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 K Cl O Check my work now to see that I actually have the same number of potassium atoms on both sides, Chlorine atoms on both sides, and Oxygen atoms on both sides. 2 1 = K = 1 2 2 1 = Cl =1 2 6 3 = O = 2 4 6

2KClO3 2KCl + 3O2 If so, it is a balanced equation. This means that 2 molecules of Potassium Chlorate will decompose… to form 2 molecules of Potassium Chloride… and 3 molecules Oxygen gas 2 1 = K = 1 2 2 1 = Cl =1 2 6 3 = O = 2 4 6

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