Answer
CS$_2$ + 3O$_2$ ➔ 2SO$_2$ + CO$_2$
Work Step by Step
Let us write out the unbalanced equation first. Carbon sulfide is a molecular compound, so the numbers of each atom in the compound are already given. We have carbon and sulfur bound in a 1:2 ratio. Oxygen usually exists as a diatomic molecule. Sulfur dioxide is also a molecular compound, so the numbers of each atom are already given. We have sulfur and oxygen in a 1:2 ratio. Carbon dioxide is also a molecular compound, so we can see that we have one carbon atom for every two oxygen atoms. Here is the unbalanced chemical equation for this reaction:
CS$_2$ + O$_2$ ➔ SO$_2$ + CO$_2$
Now we need to balance this equation.
We look first at the carbon atoms. We have 1 on the left and 1 on the right. We are balanced in terms of carbon atoms.
We now look at the sulfur atoms. We have 2 on the left and 1 on the right. We need to add a 2 in front of SO$_2$ to balance the sulfur atoms.
CS$_2$ + O$_2$ ➔ 2SO$_2$ + CO$_2$
Let's check the oxygen atoms now. We have 2 on the left and 6 on the right. Let's add a 3 in front of O$_2$ to balance the oxygen atoms.
CS$_2$ + 3O$_2$ ➔ 2SO$_2$ + CO$_2$
Now let's check the numbers of atoms in the reactants and the products.
Reactants/Products:
carbon: 1/1
sulfur: 2/2
oxygen: 6/6
