balance

H2SO4 + NaOH --> H2O + Na2SO4

so i know you need 2 Na on each side but then I cant figure out the #'s for O or H

2NaOH + H2SO4 ==> 2H2O + Na2SO4

Equations like this are balanced by inspection which in simple terms means trial and error. You learn how to do these by practice; the more practice you get the better you become. Here is the process I go through.

NaOH + H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + H2O

The first RULE to remember is that you MAY NOT change any of the subscripts; you may change ONLY the coefficients.
I look at the equation and I see 2 Na atoms on the right so I know to make 2 Na atoms on the left like this.
2NaOH + H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + H2O

That makes Na ok. The SO4 is ok so I won't bother with it. For H I count up what I have on the left side and make the right side equal to that number. I see 2 H atoms from 2NaOH and I see 2 H atoms for H2SO4. That makes 4 H atoms on the left and can get 4 H atoms on the right with 2H2O.
2NaOH + H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + 2H2O

How do you know it is balanced? You ALWAYS check it.
I see 2 Na on the left and right.
I see 6 O atoms on the left (2 from NaOH and 4 from H2SO4) and there are 6 on the right(4 from SO4 and 2 from 2H2O).
I see 4 H atoms on the left (2 from 2NaOH and 2 from H2SO4). There are 4 H atoms on the right from 2H2O.
Don't get discouraged. This will come along with practice.

To balance the given chemical equation H2SO4 + NaOH → H2O + Na2SO4, you need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. Here's how you can balance it step-by-step:

1. Start by balancing the elements that appear in only one compound on each side. In this case, we have sulfur (S) and sodium (Na).

Counting the number of sulfur atoms, we have 1 S atom on the left side and 1 S atom on the right side. So, sulfur is already balanced.

Counting the number of sodium atoms, we have 1 Na atom on the left side and 2 Na atoms on the right side. To balance sodium, put a coefficient of 2 in front of NaOH to get:

H2SO4 + 2NaOH → H2O + Na2SO4

2. Now let's balance hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).

Counting the number of hydrogen atoms, we have 2 H atoms on the left side and 2 H atoms on the right side. Hydrogen is balanced.

Counting the number of oxygen atoms, we have 4 O atoms on the left side (2 in H2SO4 and 2 in NaOH) and 4 O atoms on the right side (2 in H2O and 2 in Na2SO4). Oxygen is also balanced.

By following these steps, the balanced equation becomes:

H2SO4 + 2NaOH → H2O + Na2SO4

Now, the same number of atoms for each element is present on both sides of the equation.