Question

Balance the chemical equation below using the smallest possible whole number stoichiometric coefficients. FE2O3(s) Fe(s) O2(g)

Answer 1

Answer:

2Fe₂O₃(s) → 4Fe(s) + 3O₂(g)

Explanation:

The unbalanced reaction is:

• Fe₂O₃(s) → Fe(s) + O₂(g)

To balance the oxygen atoms, we put a 2 before Fe₂O₃ and a 3 before O₂(g) - so as to make the total of O atoms in both sides 6 -:

• 2Fe₂O₃(s) → Fe(s) + 3O₂(g)

There are four Fe atoms on the left side and only one on the right side, so we put a 4 before Fe(s):

• 2Fe₂O₃(s) → 4Fe(s) + 3O₂(g)

Now the equation is balanced: there is an equal number of both Fe and O atoms in both sides of the equation.