Balancing chemical equations is important because it helps us keep track of matter. Here’s an easy guide on how to do it:

1. Find Reactants and Products: Start by writing the equation that isn’t balanced. For example, when burning methane, we have: $\text{CH}_4 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O}$

2. Count Atoms: Check how many of each type of atom is on both sides of the equation. For our example:

   • On the left side: Carbon (C) = 1, Hydrogen (H) = 4, Oxygen (O) = 2
   • On the right side: Carbon (C) = 1, Hydrogen (H) = 2, Oxygen (O) = 3

3. Use Coefficients: Change the numbers in front of the molecules (called coefficients) to make the atoms match. Start with the more complicated molecule, like water. We can change it to: $\text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}$

4. Check Again: Look at the counts one more time to make sure everything is balanced. If it’s not right yet, adjust the numbers again!

By doing these steps, you can help make sure we don’t lose any mass in chemical reactions!