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5 Jan 2026

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1 page

Mastering Equation Balancing: Simple Strategies

Izzy Aguiar

@izzyaguiar_bfyo

Chemical equations need to follow the law of conservation of... Show more

How to balance equations BUBBLE METHOD
1) write out the equation
Na+0₂ Na₂O
2) Draw a line between reactants and products, put each compound

The Bubble Method for Balancing Chemical Equations

Ever wondered how chemists make sure their equations actually work? The bubble method transforms the tricky process of balancing chemical equations into something you can literally see and count.

Start by writing your unbalanced equation - let's use sodium plus oxygen making sodium oxide: Na + O₂ → Na₂O. Draw a vertical line between your reactants (left side) and products (right side), then put each element into its own bubble under the correct compound.

Count the atoms of each element on both sides. In our example, you'll spot the problem immediately: 1 sodium and 2 oxygen atoms on the left, but 2 sodium and 1 oxygen on the right. Time to fix this!

Add more bubbles to balance things out, tackling one element at a time. Balance oxygen first by adding another Na₂O bubble on the product side - now you've got 2 oxygen atoms on each side. Then sort the sodium by adding more Na bubbles until you have 4 on each side.

Top Tip: Always work with one element at a time - trying to balance everything simultaneously will drive you mad!

Finally, translate your bubbles back into the balanced equation: 4Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O. The bubble method turns abstract numbers into something concrete you can actually visualise and manipulate.

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5 Jan 2026

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1 page

Mastering Equation Balancing: Simple Strategies

Izzy Aguiar

@izzyaguiar_bfyo

Chemical equations need to follow the law of conservation of mass - what goes in must equal what comes out. The bubble method is a brilliant visual technique that makes balancing equations feel like solving a puzzle rather than doing... Show more

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The Bubble Method for Balancing Chemical Equations

Ever wondered how chemists make sure their equations actually work? The bubble method transforms the tricky process of balancing chemical equations into something you can literally see and count.

Count the atoms of each element on both sides. In our example, you'll spot the problem immediately: 1 sodium and 2 oxygen atoms on the left, but 2 sodium and 1 oxygen on the right. Time to fix this!

Top Tip: Always work with one element at a time - trying to balance everything simultaneously will drive you mad!

Finally, translate your bubbles back into the balanced equation: 4Na + O₂ → 2Na₂O. The bubble method turns abstract numbers into something concrete you can actually visualise and manipulate.