How do I balance this equation?

Cu + O2 ---> CuO

NeXtrews2009-11-03T13:13:56Z

Favorite Answer

Balance the non-oxygen/hydrogen first [Cu]
~Balanced

Balance O
Cu + O2 ---> 2CuO

Do rebalancing
2Cu + O2 ---> 2CuO

Check by calculating the amount of atoms on the left if equals to the right.

2Cu = 2Cu [2 = 2]
O2 = 2O [2 = 2]

smartiegal82009-11-03T13:13:38Z

Put a coefficient of 2 in front of the Cu and the CuO so it would be 2Cu+O2 --->2CuO. Then there's 2 of Cu and O on each side and it's balanced.