Sodium nitrite reacts with zinc oxide to form sodium oxide and zinc nitrite
How do you balance this reaction?

First you need to get the symbolic equation out of the word equation given.

sodium nitrite + zinc oxide --> sodium oxide + zinc nitrite

NaNO2 + ZnO --> Na2O + Zn(NO2)2

Sodium (Na) has a charge of +1
Nitrite (NO2) has a charge of -1
Zinc (Zn) has a charge of +2
Oxygen (O) has a charge of -2

When paired up, as in Sodium Nitrite, the charge must equal zero, so one of each is needed. In something like Sodium Oxide, however, 2 sodiums of +1 charge are needed and only one oxygen of -2 charge.

Now you have the core equation. But to balance it, you have to make the atoms on the left equal the atoms on the right. (same number of oxygens on both sides, same number of nitrogens on both sides, etc.)

It's pretty simple from here on out...

Sodium nitrite reacts with zinc oxide to form sodium oxide and zinc nitrite
how do you balance this reaction?


Have you ever balanced a simple equation? If so, you should be able to balance that one. This reaction is one of the simplest to balance. If you still have problems, post back.