Chemical equation balancer that shows how it balanced
A balancer that only prints coefficients does not help on a test where you have to balance by hand. Paste an equation or a photo of the whole worksheet, and your agent balances each one, shows the order it balanced the elements in, gives an atom-count table to prove it, and names the reaction type.
The prompt
- Balance these chemical equations: [EQUATIONS OR PHOTO]. For each one, give the balanced equation with the smallest whole-number coefficients and states of matter if they are given. Show the method step by step ([METHOD]), explaining which element you balanced first and why. Add an atom-count table (each element on the left and right) to prove it is balanced, and verify it by solving the coefficients as a system of equations in Python. Name the reaction type (synthesis, decomposition, single or double replacement, combustion, redox). For redox, also show the half-reactions. My level is [LEVEL]. Put all of them in a [FORMAT] I can print.
What to change
- [EQUATIONS OR PHOTO]: Type them like "C3H8 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O", one per line, or attach a photo of the worksheet.
- [METHOD]: "inspection" for most classes, "algebraic method" or "half-reaction method" for redox.
- [LEVEL]: E.g. "8th grade science", "GCSE Chemistry", "General Chemistry".
- [FORMAT]: "PDF", "Word file" or "just reply here".
Example result
- 1. Combustion of propane
- Unbalanced: C3H8 + O2 → CO2 + H2O
- Balanced: C3H8 + 5 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O
- How it was balanced (inspection)
- • Carbon first: 3 C on the left, so put 3 in front of CO2.
- • Hydrogen next: 8 H on the left, and each H2O has 2, so put 4 in front of H2O.
- • Oxygen last: it appears alone as O2, so it is the easiest to fix at the end. Right side: 3 × 2 + 4 × 1 = 10 O atoms, so 5 O2.
- Atom count
- • C: left 3, right 3
- • H: left 8, right 8
- • O: left 10, right 10
- Type: combustion (a hydrocarbon + O2 gives CO2 + H2O).
- 2. Aluminum and copper(II) chloride
- Unbalanced: Al + CuCl2 → AlCl3 + Cu
- Balanced: 2 Al + 3 CuCl2 → 2 AlCl3 + 3 Cu
- • Chlorine is 2 on the left and 3 on the right. The lowest common multiple is 6: 3 CuCl2 and 2 AlCl3.
- • Then Al: 2 on the right, so 2 Al. Cu: 3 on the left, so 3 Cu.
- • Atom count: Al 2 = 2, Cu 3 = 3, Cl 6 = 6
- Type: single replacement, and also redox:
- • Oxidation: Al → Al³⁺ + 3e⁻ (times 2)
- • Reduction: Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu (times 3)
- • 6 electrons lost = 6 electrons gained
- 3. Decomposition of potassium chlorate
- Unbalanced: KClO3 → KCl + O2
- Balanced: 2 KClO3 → 2 KCl + 3 O2
- • O: 3 on the left, 2 on the right. LCM 6, so 2 KClO3 and 3 O2. Then 2 KCl.
- • Atom count: K 2 = 2, Cl 2 = 2, O 6 = 6
- Type: decomposition.
- Rules that always work
- • Never change subscripts, only coefficients.
- • Balance elements that appear in only one compound on each side first; leave lone elements (O2, H2, Fe) for last.
- • Treat a polyatomic ion that stays intact (SO4, NO3) as one unit.
- • If you end with a fraction like 13/2 O2, multiply everything by 2.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and paste your equations, or attach a photo of the worksheet.
- Send it in todo.is or to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Get every equation balanced with the steps, an atom-count table and the reaction type, as a PDF or a reply.
- Ask for "5 more like these for practice, answers on a separate page" to test yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Balance by hand first, then send your attempt. Your agent tells you which element you got wrong.
- For combustion, the order C, then H, then O works almost every time.
- Check your work with an atom-count table. If every element matches on both sides, you are done.
- For redox in acid or base, say so in the prompt. Balancing with H⁺ and H2O differs from balancing with OH⁻.
chemical equation balancer: FAQ
- Can it balance redox equations? Yes. Ask for the half-reaction method and say if the solution is acidic or basic. It shows the electrons lost and gained and checks charge balance.
- Can it balance a whole worksheet from a photo? Yes. Send a clear photo. Small subscripts can be misread in handwriting, so your agent lists the equations it read before balancing them.
- How does it know the answer is right? It counts atoms on both sides and also solves the coefficients as a system of equations in Python, so the two methods have to agree.
- Can it predict the products if I only have reactants? For common reaction types, yes, and it explains the reasoning. Your teacher may expect specific products, so check against class notes.
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