Balancing Equations
In balancing equations, I have always found that it helps me to write a small table off to the side (that's what the margins are for!!)  For example, if you have the reaction:
 

C6H14 + O2 ----->CO2 + H2O

(My own rough work table would be a whole lot smaller and messier than this, but HTML cruelly forces me to be neat and orderly)
Left  side Right side Step 1 LHS RHS Step 2 LHS RHS Step 3 LHS RHS
Carbon 6 1 6 6 6 6 6 6
Hydrogen 14 2 14 2 14 14 14 14
Oxygen 2 3 2 13 2 19 19 19

Step 1
First multiply the Carbons on the right hand side by 6

C6H14 + O2 ----->6 CO2 + H2O

Step 2
Multiply the Hydrogens on the right hand side by 7

C6H14 + O2 ----->6 CO2 + 7H2O

Step 3
Balance the oxygen by multiplying by 19/2  (19/2 times O2 gives you 19 O)*(you will get rid of the fraction in step 4)

C6H14 + 19/2 O2 ----->6 CO2 + 7 H2O

Step 4  Multiply everything by 2 to get rid of the fraction in front of the O2 , because you are not allowed to have fractions in the reaction.

2 C6H14 + 19 O2 ----->12 CO2 + 14 H2O

Try this one:

XXXXXX  + YYYYYY---> AAAAA + BBBBBB

Is the answer
a)
b)
c)

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