[CubeRoot]

Do I need to check the charges every time? If not, how do you know when to check for charges?

Thanks in advance for answering

[chenbeier]

Yes, the charges and the amount of atoms must be equal on both sides.

[CubeRoot]

Thanks!

I have an additional question. If there's no explicitly stated charge should I not worry about the oxidation number?

[Borek]

Broadly speaking oxidation numbers can be safely ignored all the time. Atoms and charges are real things that are conserved, oxidation numbers are made up and don't reflect any real/measurable property of atoms. They are often quite useful and help in balancing, but everything that can be balanced can be also balanced without them.

[CubeRoot]

Oooh nicee! Thanks! This has been really helpful   

[Babcock_Hall]

Oxidation numbers can help us understand the chemistry more clearly.