Question

Balance the following Acid/Base Reactions:1. __Fe(OH)3 + __HBr --> __FeBr3 + __H2O

Answer 1

Let's start by determining how many atoms of each element are on each side of the reaction.

Now, we are going to start balancing the equation by trial and error, starting with bromine. We place coefficient 3 in front of the HBr molecule to have 3 bromine atoms on the reactant side.

`Fe(OH)_3+3HB_{}r\rightarrow Fe_{}Br_3+H_2O`

Now continuing with the hydrogen, we now have 6 hydrogens on the reactant side. Then we must place the coefficient 3 in front of H2O, so we will have 3x2=6 hydrogen atoms in the products.

`Fe(OH)_3+3HB_{}r\rightarrow Fe_{}Br_3+3H_2O`

We count again the atoms of each element on each side of the reaction.

We have the same number of atoms of each element on each side of the reaction, now the reaction is balanced.