for... ex.

1. _____NaOH + ______HCI = ______NaCl + _____H2O



now what the hell is this?

Actually this chemical equation is already balanced for you.

Look at it this way:

On the left you already have 1 Na (sodium), on the right you have 1 Na also.

On the left you have 1 O (oxygen), same thing on the right.

On the left you have 2 H (hydrogen) although they are in 2 separate places there are 2. On the right you have 1 H2 (which means that there are 2 H)

On the left you have 1 Cl and same on the right.

What you need to do is to make sure that you have the same number of elements on each side of the equation. In this instance you already do, so it is already balanced.

NaOH + HCI = NaCl +H2O

Na-1 ......... Na - 1
O-1 ......... O - 1
H-1 ......... H - 2
Cl-1 ......... Cl - 1

The aim is to get the same number of each element on each side.
The easiest way to work it out is just to take each element at a time, and balance them.When you're balancing, you'll probably unbalance other elements, but you just keep on trying to balance them all and they will all eventually balance.

I usually write it out like this, so I don't get confused over how many I've added on each side:

NaOH + HCl = NaCl +H2O
NaOH....HCl...NaCl....H2O
NaOH....HCl...NaCl....H2O

Na-2 ....... Na - 2
O-2 ......... O - 1
H-2 ......... H - 2
Cl-2 ....... Cl - 2

Then once you've balanced it, just tidy up the equasion.
So it would give you:

3NaOH + 3HCl = 3NaCl +3H2O

[B]Na-3 3NaOH + 3HCl = 3NaCl +3H2O

Na-3 ......... Na - 3
O-3 ......... O - 3
H-6 ......... H - 6
Cl-3 ......... Cl - 3

Okay, explain to me where you now get 3 Sodiums on each side of the equation when you only had one Sodium on each side to begin with? If your "balanced" equation has 4 Hydrogens on the left and 3 Hydrogens on the right, can you explain how this is a balanced equation?

The equation was already balanced when the OP posted, you just totally confused the living daylights out of anyone who is learning to balance, since you totally and quite effectively unbalanced it.

The equation is balaced, basically all you have to do.. is write down all the elements u have
which is
H
O
Cl
Na
then write down beside it the amount on left hand side and right hand side
so
left hand side

H=2
O=1
Cl=1
Na=1
right hand side

H=2
O=1
Cl=1
Na=1

Now u see they all have the same amount of thh same thing.. so left hand side is = to right hand side.. And its balanced.

J_9 and Areen are absolutely right. As a side note though, it is all about things wanting to achieve their most stable state. What you have in the first half of the equation is sodium hydroxide (a strong base), and hydrochloric acid (a strong acid). An acid and a base combined will have a tendency to cancel each other. Thus, you wind up with sodium chloride (table salt) and water. Far less reactive compounds.

I agree Thomas, but I believe the OP is just now learning the dynamics of balancing equations. While it can be very confusing, it can also be quite simple if taught correctly.

Pikkulintu made it not only incorrect, but VERY confusing to learn.

=] chemistry is fun... until u reach energy and change.. a tiny bit confusing...

I will admit that in text form what was written by pikkulintu was difficult to follow. Most likely because of the error in counting atoms from the initial post. Note that pikkulintu indicated only one hydrogen on the left side of the reaction.

The result, however, was in fact balanced.

It simply wasn't written using the standard conventions where the coefficients are in lowest whole number ratios.

That is part of the beauty of the balanced equation... any factor remains balanced.

That being said, there was no work that needed to be done on this equation as it was balanced from the onset.

Balancing can be frustrating at times because of the lack of "steps" and the trial and error involved. There are, however certain things you can do to make balancing easier.

Balance the biggest compound first.

Save the lone elements for last.

_____NaOH + ______HCI = ______NaCl + _____H2O