Chemistry equation balancer with full working
Paste any reaction — combustion, redox, ionic or precipitation — and get balanced coefficients plus a step-by-step explanation of how they were derived.
How the balancer works
1. Paste the unbalanced reaction
Type it as you would in class — subscripts, charges and state symbols like (aq) or (g) are all supported.
2. Atoms are counted on both sides
Mindframe tabulates every element (and charge, for redox) so you can see exactly where the imbalance sits.
3. Coefficients are derived, not guessed
The solver builds and solves the linear system behind the reaction, then reduces to the smallest whole numbers.
4. You get the working, not just the answer
Each step is explained in plain language, with the reaction type and a final verification check.
What it can balance
- Combustion of hydrocarbons and alcohols
- Redox and half-reactions in acid or base
- Net ionic and precipitation reactions
- Synthesis, decomposition and displacement
- Reactions with polyatomic ions and hydrates
- Equations with charges, states and catalysts
A worked example
Unbalanced
C₃H₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O
- Carbon: 3 C on the left, so CO₂ needs a coefficient of 3.
- Hydrogen: 8 H on the left, so H₂O needs a coefficient of 4.
- Oxygen: the right now holds 3×2 + 4×1 = 10 O atoms, so O₂ needs a coefficient of 5.
- Verify: 3 C, 8 H and 10 O on both sides — balanced, and it is a complete combustion reaction.
Balanced
C₃H₈ + 5O₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O
Frequently asked questions
How do you balance a chemical equation?
Write the unbalanced skeleton equation, count the atoms of each element on both sides, then assign coefficients so every element appears in equal numbers. Formally this is a system of linear equations, one per element, solved for the smallest whole-number coefficients. Never change subscripts — they define the compound.
Can it balance redox and ionic equations?
Yes. For redox reactions Mindframe identifies oxidation states, splits the half-reactions, balances mass and charge, then recombines them. Net ionic equations are balanced for charge as well as atoms.
Does it show the full working?
Every solution includes the atom tally, the coefficient reasoning step by step, the reaction type (combustion, synthesis, single/double displacement, redox) and a verification pass that re-counts the balanced equation.
Is the chemistry equation balancer free?
Yes. Create a free Mindframe account and you get 20 AI solves per day across chemistry, maths and physics. Paid plans add higher limits, saved work and deeper step-by-step detail.
Can I use it for homework and exam revision?
It is built for it. Because the working is explained line by line, you can check your own method rather than only comparing final answers — useful for IGCSE, A-Level, IB, AP and first-year university chemistry.
Start balancing — 20 free solves a day
Create a free Mindframe AI account to save your work, follow every step, and use the same solver for maths, physics and science projects.