When iron metal reacts with sulfuric acid, it produces iron (III) sulfate and hydrogen gas. Balance the equation: Fe + H2SO4 → F
e2(SO4)3 + H2. Explain why it is necessary to balance chemical equations and why coefficients can be added to an equation, but subscripts cannot be changed
Why balance?: To obey the law of conservation of mass
Subscripts can not be changed, since they show the actual number of atoms of each element in a compound.
<h3>Explanation:</h3>
The balanced equation for the reaction between the iron metal and sulfuric acid to produces iron (III) sulfate and hydrogen gas is given by;
2Fe + 3H₂SO₄ → Fe₂(SO₄)₃ + 3H₂
Balancing chemical equations ensures that they obey the law of conservation of mass which requires the mass of reactants and the mass of products to be equal.
Balancing is done by putting coefficients on reactants and products while not affecting the subscripts as subscripts show the actual number of atoms of an element in a compound.
