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WorksheetYear 10Level 3 · Challenge

Free Year 10 Chemical Reactions: Word Equations and Balancing Equations Worksheet

Students identify reactants and products, write word equations and balance formula equations by counting atoms, using examples such as 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. They apply the law of conservation of mass to calculate unknown masses and explain observations, and classify reactions as combustion, neutralisation or precipitation, naming the salts formed when acids react with bases.

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Year
Year 10
Subject
Science
Topic
Mixtures & Chemical Reactions
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
45 minutes
Curriculum
Australian Curriculum
Questions
25
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • identifying reactants and products
  • writing word equations
  • balancing chemical equations by counting atoms
  • applying the law of conservation of mass
  • classifying combustion, neutralisation and precipitation reactions
  • naming the salt produced by an acid and a base

Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Chemical Reactions: Word Equations and Balancing Equations

  1. 1Rates of Reaction and Collision Theory
  2. 2The Reactivity Series and Displacement Reactions

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 10 students (typically ages 15–16) working on mixtures & chemical reactions. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 45 minutes for 25 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Rates of Reaction and Collision Theory.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 10 · Science · Mixtures & Chemical Reactions

Chemical Reactions: Word Equations and Balancing Equations

Name

Date

Score /

Balancing tip: count every type of atom on both sides, change only the coefficients, and check your count again at the end.

Part A: Reactions and equations

In a chemical reaction, reactants are changed into new substances called products. The atoms are rearranged into new combinations, but no atoms are created or destroyed.

A word equation names the substances: hydrogen + oxygen → water. A balanced formula equation shows the formulas and has the same number of each type of atom on both sides: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. Check: on the left there are 2 × 2 = 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms; on the right there are 2 × 2 = 4 hydrogen atoms and 2 × 1 = 2 oxygen atoms.

To balance an equation, change only the coefficients (the large numbers in front of formulas). Count each type of atom, balance one element at a time, and leave elements that appear on their own (such as O₂) until last.

1.In the reaction methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water, name the reactants and the products. (answer space)
2.Write a word equation for the reaction of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide, which produces sodium chloride and water. (answer space)
3.Give three observations that show a chemical reaction may have taken place. (answer space)
4.Why must you never change the small subscript numbers in a formula when balancing an equation?
  1. AIt would change the substance into a different one
  2. BIt would make the equation too long
  3. CSubscripts only apply to gases
  4. DIt would change the mass of the container

Part B: Balance the equations

Balance each equation by writing coefficients in front of the formulas. Check by counting each type of atom on both sides.

5.H₂ + Cl₂ → HCl (answer space)
6.Mg + O₂ → MgO (answer space)
7.Na + Cl₂ → NaCl (answer space)
8.N₂ + H₂ → NH₃ (answer space)
9.CH₄ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O (answer space)
10.Zn + HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂ (answer space)
11.C₃H₈ + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O (answer space)
12.Fe + O₂ → Fe₂O₃ (answer space)
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

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