Athanor by arbastro
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How to balance a chemical equation

Choose Object › Chemistry › Balance a typed equation and type it, such as Fe + O2 -> Fe2O3. Athanor gives 4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3 with the oxidation states. Press Insert to place it.

Balance a typed equation

  1. Choose Main menu › Object › Chemistry › Balance a typed equation.

  2. Type the equation. Separate species with + and write the arrow as -> or =. Charges go after ^, as in MnO4^- or Fe^3+.

  3. Under Solution, keep As written, or pick Acidic or Basic for a redox reaction in water.

  4. The balanced equation appears, with the Oxidation states and what is Oxidized and Reduced.

    Fe + O2 -> Fe2O3 balanced as 4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3, with Fe oxidized and O2 reduced.Fe + O2 -> Fe2O3 balanced as 4Fe + 3O2 -> 2Fe2O3, with Fe oxidized and O2 reduced.

  5. Press Insert to put it on the page, or Copy.

Balance a drawn reaction

Select a drawn reaction and choose Main menu › Object › Chemistry › Balance equation. When no coefficients balance every element, for example because a by-product such as water is not drawn, Athanor says so and offers Open balancer.

Reactions and arrowsHow to draw a reaction schemeDraw or insert the reactants, press W and drag a reaction arrow after them, write the conditions above it with the Text tool, then add the products after the arrow. Or press / and type the whole reaction as reaction SMILES.

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Last updated Nov 12, 2026