Question

Balanced equation for Fe+O2 ->Fe2O3

Answer 1

Hello!

The answer is:

The balanced equation is:

$4Fe+3O_2=2Fe_{2}O_{3}$

Why?

Finding a balanced equation of a reaction means making equal the number of atoms for both reactants and products sides, according to the conservation mass law, the mass is always conserved, so, we need to make both quantities of atoms/molecules match.

So, we are given the following reaction:

$Fe+O_2=Fe_{2}O_{3}$

For the reactants, we have 1 molecule of Fe and 2 of O

For the  products, we have 2 molecules of Fe and 3 of O

So, balancing the Oxygen, we have:

$Fe+3*O_2=Fe_{2}O_{3}$

$Fe+3O_2=Fe_{2}O_{3}$

Now, there are 6 atoms of oxygen in the reactant, let's multiply the product by 2 in order to make both sides match, so:

$Fe+3O_2=2*(Fe_{2}O_{3})$

$Fe+3O_2=2(Fe_{2}O_{3})$

Now, we can see that there are 6 atoms of Oxygen in both sides, but there are 4  atoms of Fe in the products and just 1 atom in the reactants, so, we need to multiply the Fe by 4.

So, balancing the Iron (Fe) we have:

$4*Fe+3O_2=2(Fe_{2}O_{3})$

$4Fe+3O_2=2Fe_{2}O_{3}$

Hence, we can see that we now have the same number of atoms on both sides, we have:

$Fe_{reactants}=4\\O_{reactants}=6\\Fe_{products}=4\\O_{products}=6$

Therefore, the equation is balanced.

$4Fe+3O_2=2Fe_{2}O_{3}$

Have a nice day!