Example: HCl + NaOH ---> ?. This is a really common acid-base reaction. You would be expected to know that NaCl and H₂O will result. But given FeSO₄ + KMnO₄ + H₂SO₄ you would have to be TOLD what products to expect. There is no way to figure this one out from simple rules. (There's no easy way to balance this one either using the methods in this unit!)

2. Write correct chemical formulas for all reactants and products. Don't change any of these formulas when balancing the equation.

Example: H₂SO₄ + Al₂O₃ ---> Al₂(SO₄)₃ + H₂O
Right: 3 H₂SO₄ + Al₂O₃ ---> Al₂(SO₄)₃ + 3 H₂O
Wrong: 2 H₂SO₄ + Al₂O₃ ---> 2 AlSO₄ + 2 H₂O + O