About Chemical Equation Balancer
A chemical equation is balanced when every element has the same number of atoms on both sides. Textbooks often teach balancing by inspection, adjusting coefficients until the counts agree, which works for simple reactions but becomes guesswork once several compounds or nested groups are involved.
This balancer sets up the atom-count matrix and solves for its nullspace, so the coefficients follow from the element counts instead of from trial and error. The output shows the balanced equation, the atom conservation table, the coefficient list and the equations used to find them, and impossible inputs are rejected rather than approximated.
What this tool does
Exact integer solver
The element-count matrix is reduced with exact fractions and then scaled to the smallest whole numbers, so floating-point rounding cannot produce a false balance.
Arrow and formula support
Accepts ->, →, = and => between the two sides, and the shared formula parser handles nested ()[]{} groups and integer subscripts.
Atom conservation table
Every element is listed with its reactant and product atom counts, making the balance check explicit instead of something you have to trust.
Multiple balances handled
When a reaction can be balanced in more than one independent way, the tool says so and returns one deterministic valid solution.
Impossible equations rejected
If the elements cannot be made to agree, the tool explains that no coefficient set works instead of showing a wrong answer.
Step-by-step working
The atom matrix, element equations and coefficient solution are printed, so the result can be followed or checked by hand.
How to use Chemical Equation Balancer
- 01
Enter the equation
Type the reactants and products separated by an arrow, for example H2 + O2 -> H2O, using + between formulas.
- 02
Use full formulas
Write nested groups such as Ca(OH)2 and Al2(SO4)3; leave out coefficients, charges and state symbols.
- 03
Read the balanced equation
The result uses the smallest whole-number coefficients and omits any coefficient of 1.
- 04
Check the conservation table
Each element row shows reactant atoms and product atoms side by side, and they must match exactly.
- 05
Follow the working
The step panel shows the atom matrix, the element equations and the coefficient solution for a manual check.
How this tool works
- Works with
- EQUATION → COEFFICIENTS
- Processing
- Client-side, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
- Requirements
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari · JavaScript enabled
Limitations worth knowing
- Neutral molecular equations only: ionic charges, electrons, oxidation states and redox half-reactions are not balanced.
- State symbols such as (s), (l), (g) and (aq) are not supported and must be removed before balancing.
- Input coefficients are not accepted; the tool derives coefficients from bare formulas, and when several independent balances exist it returns one deterministic solution.
- Large reactions are capped at 12 formulas and 24 different elements.
Privacy and file handling
Equations are parsed and balanced in your browser tab. Nothing you enter is uploaded, stored or logged, and the balancer makes no network request.
Read the full privacy policy