This is the first of two videos about balancing chemical equations. This video shows the inspection method, or "trial-and-error" method. Be sure you carefully count how many of each kind of atom are on each side. The number of hydrogen atoms on the left must equal the number of hydrogen atoms on the right. Same goes for all the atoms! We also explain *why* it's so important to balance chemical equations - if you don't, you violate the laws of the universe!