Inspection Balance

Balance Charges

For ionic equations, one might have to use charge conditions to help balance. For Example:

I^- + IO₃^- + H⁺ --> I₂ + H₂O

it could be begun by balancing oxygen first:

I^- + 1IO₃^- + H⁺ --> I₂ + 3H₂O

then hydrogen:

I^- + 1IO₃^- + 6H⁺ --> I₂ + 3 H₂O

According to our previous rules, there is no "unique" atom to be balanced. In this step, the charge condition will be used - the sum of charges from both sides of the equation must be equal.

In this case, to make the sum of charge from reactants' side equal to that of productions' side, which is zero, one must add coefficient 5 for I^-.

5 I^- + 1IO₃^- + 6H⁺ --> I₂ + 3H₂O

In the next step, of course, iodine will be balanced by adding 3 on I₂.

5 I ^- + IO₃^- + 6H⁺ --> 3 I₂ + 3H₂O