Fe2O3 + CO → Fe + CO2
a. Balance the equation
b. Write all possible ratios
The correct answer and explanation is :
a. Balancing the equation:
The unbalanced reaction is:
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + \text{CO} \rightarrow \text{Fe} + \text{CO}_2 ]
To balance this equation, follow these steps:
- Balance Iron (Fe):
On the left side, we have (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3), which contains 2 iron atoms. On the right side, iron is represented as (\text{Fe}). To balance the iron atoms, we place a coefficient of 2 in front of (\text{Fe}):
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + \text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + \text{CO}_2 ] - Balance Oxygen (O):
On the left side, (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) has 3 oxygen atoms, and on the right side, (\text{CO}_2) has 2 oxygen atoms. To balance the oxygen, we place a coefficient of 3 in front of (\text{CO}_2):
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + \text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2 ] - Balance Carbon (C):
On the left side, we have (\text{CO}), which has 1 carbon atom. On the right side, we now have 3 carbon atoms because of the 3 (\text{CO}_2) molecules. To balance the carbon, place a coefficient of 3 in front of (\text{CO}):
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2 ] - Final Balanced Equation:
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2 ]
b. Possible Ratios:
From the balanced equation:
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2 ]
We can write the ratios of the reactants and products based on their coefficients:
- Fe₂O₃ to CO: The ratio of (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) to (\text{CO}) is 1:3. For every 1 molecule of (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3), 3 molecules of (\text{CO}) are required.
- Fe₂O₃ to Fe: The ratio of (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3) to (\text{Fe}) is 1:2. For every 1 molecule of (\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3), 2 atoms of Fe are produced.
- CO to CO₂: The ratio of (\text{CO}) to (\text{CO}_2) is 3:3, which simplifies to 1:1. For every 1 molecule of CO, 1 molecule of CO₂ is produced.
Explanation:
The balanced equation demonstrates the stoichiometric relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The coefficients indicate the ratio in which substances combine and react. These ratios are crucial for understanding the amounts of each substance required or produced during a chemical reaction. Stoichiometry allows for the calculation of the necessary reactants or expected products in any given chemical process. In this case, understanding that for every 1 mole of Fe₂O₃, 3 moles of CO are required to produce 2 moles of Fe and 3 moles of CO₂ can help in practical applications, like industrial production of iron using carbon monoxide.
Here is the diagram illustrating the balanced chemical equation for the reaction:
[ \text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 + 3\text{CO} \rightarrow 2\text{Fe} + 3\text{CO}_2 ]