Final answer:
To balance the equation FeCl3 + NaOH → NaCl + Fe(OH)3, coefficients are placed to obtain 1 Fe, 3 Cl, 3 Na, and 3 OH on both sides, giving the balanced equation FeCl3 + 3 NaOH → 3 NaCl + Fe(OH)3, demonstrating the law of conservation of mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance the chemical equation FeCl3 + NaOH → NaCl + Fe(OH)3, we need to add appropriate coefficients to ensure that the same number of atoms of each element is present on both sides of the equation. Here is how you can balance it:
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- Start by balancing the element that appears the least amount of times on both sides of the equation, which in this case is iron (Fe). There is one Fe atom on both sides, so it is already balanced.
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- Next, balance the chlorine (Cl) atoms. There are three Cl atoms on the reactant side and only one on the product side. To balance Cl, we place a coefficient of 3 in front of NaCl.
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- Now, balance the sodium (Na) atoms. Because we have a 3 in front of NaCl, we now need to place a coefficient of 3 in front of NaOH to have three Na atoms on both sides.
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- Lastly, balance the oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) atoms at the same time since they are in the same compound, NaOH and Fe(OH)3. There are 3 OH groups on the reactant side and 3 on the product side (as part of Fe(OH)3) once we've added the coefficient of 3 in front of NaOH.
The balanced equation is FeCl3 + 3 NaOH → 3 NaCl + Fe(OH)3.
This chemical reaction demonstrates the law of conservation of mass because it shows that atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. The total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. By balancing the equation, we ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides, reflecting that mass is conserved.