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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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...

14. 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...

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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 …

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

25. 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

26. Balancing Equations Website Click on the link below