Question

When iron metal reacts with oxygen, the reaction can form Fe2O3. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction, and find the number of moles of oxygen that are needed to form 6 mol of Fe2O3. Show your work.

Answer 1

Balanced equation: 4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃

Moles of oxygen gas = 9 moles

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer the question;

• We first write the balanced equation between iron metal and Oxygen

• The balanced equation is given as;

4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃

• We are given 6 moles of Fe₂O₃

We are required to determine the number of moles of oxygen needed to form 6 moles of Fe₂O₃.

• From the equation, 3 moles of oxygen gas reacts to produce 2 moles of Fe₂O₃

• This means, the mole ratio of O₂ to Fe₂O₃ is 3 : 2

Therefore; Moles of O₂ = Moles of Fe₂O₃ × 3/2

Hence, moles of oxygen = 6 moles × 3/2

= 9 moles

Thus, Moles of Oxygen needed is 9 moles