Identify the elements present in the compound
Write the chemical formula of the compound
Determine the charge or combining capacity of each element or ion
Use known valencies from the periodic table for common elements
For ionic compounds, balance the positive and negative charges
For covalent compounds, count the number of bonds formed by each atom
Use the criss-cross method for simple ionic compounds if needed
Check that the total valency of all atoms in the compound is balanced
For polyatomic ions, treat the entire ion as one unit
Verify the valency by comparing with standard valency tables