Question

The _________ step in balancing a chemical equation is to take inventory or count atoms on the reactant and the product side.

Answer 1

it's first (if you're doing usatestprep)

Answer 2

The order of steps when balancing a chemical equation:
1)Check for diatomic molecules
2)Balance all metals but not hydrogen
3)Balance all nonmetals but not oxygen
4)Balance oxygen
5)Balance hydrogen
6)Check by counting all atoms on both sides of the equation
7)Reduce coefficients if necessary

From these steps we can find out that answer to question is: the sixth step in balancing a chemical equation is to take inventory or count atoms on the reactant and the product side.