Final answer:
The coefficient for SO2 in order for the equation to be balanced is 4.
The correct coefficient for SO2 to balance the chemical equation FeS + O2 → Fe2O3 + SO2 is 2, according to the Law of Conservation of Mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coefficient for SO2 in order for the equation FeS + O_2 → Fe_2O_3 + SO_2 to be balanced is 4. To balance the equation, we place a coefficient of 4 in front of SO2 on the product side:
FeS + O_2 → Fe_2O_3 + 4SO_2
This ensures that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, satisfying the Law of Conservation of Mass.
The correct coefficient for SO2 to balance the chemical equation FeS + O2 → Fe2O3 + SO2 is 2, according to the Law of Conservation of Mass.
To determine the coefficient for SO2 in the balanced chemical equation FeS + O2 → Fe2O3 + SO2, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation according to the Law of Conservation of Mass. Let's balance the equation step by step:
Starting with Fe, we have one Fe atom on the reactant side (in FeS) and two Fe atoms on the product side (in Fe2O3). To balance Fe, we need a coefficient of 2 for FeS on the reactant side, giving us the partial equation: 2FeS + O2 → Fe2O3 + SO2.
Next, we look at sulfur (S). We now have 2 S atoms on the reactant side and only 1 S atom on the product side. Therefore, the coefficient for SO2 must be 2 to balance S, adjusting the equation to: 2FeS + O2 → Fe2O3 + 2SO2.
Last, we balance oxygen (O). There are 2 O atoms from O2 and 1 O atom from 2FeS on the reactant side, totaling 3 O atoms. On the product side, Fe2O3 has 3 O atoms and 2SO2 has 4 O atoms, a total of 7 O atoms. We can balance oxygen by having a coefficient of 3 for O2, making the final balanced equation: 2FeS + 3O2 → Fe2O3 + 2SO2.
The correct coefficient for SO2 in the balanced equation is 2, which corresponds to option B.