Write the unbalanced chemical equation
Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides
Change coefficients to balance the atoms
Balance one element at a time
Start with elements that appear in only one reactant and one product
Leave hydrogen and oxygen for last if they appear in multiple compounds
Use the smallest whole-number coefficients possible
Recount all atoms after each change
Repeat until the number of each type of atom is equal on both sides
Check that the final equation is balanced
Do not change subscripts in the chemical formulas