Write the correct formulas for all reactants and products
Count the atoms of each element on both sides
Add coefficients in front of formulas to balance one element at a time
Never change subscripts in chemical formulas
Recount atoms after each change
Balance elements that appear in only one compound on each side first
Leave hydrogen and oxygen for last if they appear in multiple compounds
Reduce coefficients to the smallest whole-number ratio
Check that every element has the same number of atoms on both sides
Verify that the final equation is balanced and coefficients are whole numbers