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C₈H₁₀N₄O₂ is the chemical formula for caffeine.

Balancing Symbol Equations (H)

Practise balancing chemical equations so atoms match on both sides. This GCSE Chemistry quiz builds confidence with careful counting and choosing smart atoms to balance first.

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Fascinating Fact:

Start by balancing atoms that appear in only one reactant and one product. Leave hydrogen and oxygen until last if they appear in many places.

In GCSE Chemistry, balancing symbol equations shows that mass is conserved in chemical reactions. You balance by changing coefficients in front of formulae, not by changing the formulae themselves, until each element has the same number of atoms on both sides.

Key Terms

Coefficient: A number placed in front of a formula to show how many of that substance take part, for example 2H₂O.
Reactants: The starting substances in a reaction, written on the left side of a chemical equation.
Conservation of mass: The rule that atoms are not created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, so the total number of each type of atom stays the same.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do you balance symbol equations in GCSE Chemistry?

To balance a symbol equation, count each type of atom on both sides, then adjust the coefficients in front of formulae until the numbers match for every element. Do not change the chemical formulae.

Why can’t you change the small numbers in a chemical formula when balancing?

You cannot change the small numbers in a formula because they show the fixed ratio of atoms in that compound. Changing them would create a different substance, so you must change coefficients instead.

What is a good strategy when an equation has hydrogen and oxygen in several places?

If hydrogen and oxygen appear in more than one substance, balance other elements first, then balance hydrogen and oxygen at the end. This reduces the chance of undoing your earlier balancing.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O

CH₄ + 3O₂ → CO₂ + 2 H₂O

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2 H₂O

CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 3 H₂O

The complete combustion of methane

2 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

Fe2O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂

2Fe2O₃ + 2CO → Fe + 3CO₂

Fe2O₃ + 3CO → Fe + 2CO₂

Fe2O₃+ 3CO → Fe + CO₂

Two Fe, three C and six O atoms on each side

3 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

2H₂ SO₄ + Pb(OH)₄ → Pb(SO₄)₂ + 4H₂O

H₂ SO₄ + Pb(OH)₄ → Pb(SO₄)₂ + 4H₂O

2H₂ SO₄ + Pb(OH)₄ → PbSO₄ + 4H₂O

2H₂ SO₄ + Pb(OH)₄ → Pb(SO₄)₂ + H₂O

Remember, brackets in chemistry work the same as in maths

4 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂

2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂

Al + HCl → AlCl₃ + H₂

2Al + HCl → AlCl₃ + 3H₂

Two Al, six H and six Cl on each side

5 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

3Na₃PO₄ + 3HCl → 3NaCl + H₃PO₄

Na₃PO₄ + 2HCl → 3NaCl + H₃PO₄

Na₃PO₄ + HCl → NaCl + H₃PO₄

Na₃PO₄ + 3HCl → 3NaCl + H₃PO₄

This one looks worse than it is - all that happens is that the Na and the H swap places during the reaction

6 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

Mg(OH)₂ + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂O

Mg(OH)₂ + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + 2H₂O

Mg(OH)₂ + HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂O

MgOH + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + 2H₂O

Balancing equations gets easier the more you do

7 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

TiCl₄ + H₂O → TiO + 4HCl

TiCl₄ + 3H₂ → TiO₂ + 5HCl

TiCl₄ + H₂ → TiO₂ + HCl

TiCl₄ +2H₂O → TiO₂ + 4HCl

Titanium oxide is used in sun creams

8 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

2NaBr + Cl₂ → 2NaCl + Br₂

NaBr + Cl₂ → NaCl + Br₂

2NaBr + Cl₂ → NaCl + Br₂

3NaBr + Cl₂ → 3NaCl + Br₂

One of the halogen displacement reactions

9 .

Choose the balanced chemical equation from the list.

C₂H₆ + 3¹/₂O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

C₂H₆ + 7O₂ → 4CO₂ + 5H₂O

C₂H₆ + 3O₂ → 2CO₂ + 3H₂O

C₂H₆ + 3¹/₂O₂ → CO₂ + 3H₂O

It is more common and scientifically correct to use integers (whole numbers) for balancing equations, but you will sometimes see or equations that have been balanced in this way using ¹/₂. Examples of these are intermediate steps towards writing the final balanced equation, questions testing your knowledge of the Law of Conservation of Matter or occasionally to make calculations of reacting masses slightly easier

10 .

Choose the correctly balanced chemical equation from the list.

PCl₅ + H₂O → H₃PO₄ + HCl

PCl₅ + 4H₂O → H₃PO₄ + HCl

PCl₅ + 4H₂O → H₃PO₄ + 5HCl

PCl₅ + 4H₂O → H₃PO₄ + 5HC

The reaction of phosphorous pentachloride with water is very violent!

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Calculations in chemistry (Higher)

Author: Kate Gardiner (Chemistry Educator & GCSE Quiz Writer)

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