How To: Balance chemical equations with Olivia and Andrea

Olivia and Andrea created a song to the tune of "I'll stand by you" by the Pretenders to teach you how to balance chemical equations. A chemical equation requires coefficients in order to be balanced. You can balance a chemical equation by making use of the Periodic table. The example reaction in the song is that of aluminum and oxygen to produce aluminum oxide (Al + 02 -> Al203). You can systematically add coefficients to the reactants and products to balance the equation. A chemical equation is balanced when the number of atoms of each element on both sides (the reactant side and the product side) of the equation is the same (4Al + 302 -> 2Al203).