Question

What are the coefficients when the chemical equation below is balanced?

Fe + H2SO4 → Fe(SO4)3 + H.
A) 1, 1, 1, 13
B) 3, 2, 3, 1
C) 2, 3, 3, 3
D) 2, 3, 1, 3

Answer 1

To balance the given chemical equation, coefficients of 2, 3, 1, and 3 are used to balance iron, sulfuric acid, iron(III) sulfate, and hydrogen respectively, leading to the balanced formula: 2Fe + 3H2SO4 → 1Fe2(SO4)3 + 3H2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To balance the given chemical equation, we must ensure that the same number of atoms of each element appears on both sides of the equation.

The reaction is between iron (Fe) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to form iron(III) sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3) and hydrogen (H). Let's balance the iron atoms by adjusting the coefficient in front of Fe(SO4)3 and then balance the hydrogen and sulfur atoms accordingly:

• Fe + 3H2SO4 → Fe2(SO4)3 + H2

Now we notice that Fe needs to have a coefficient of 2 to balance the equation, which affects the other coefficients:

• 2Fe + 3H2SO4 → 1Fe2(SO4)3 + 3H2

Now all the elements are balanced. Therefore, the correct coefficients are 2, 3, 1, and 3. This corresponds to option D: 2, 3, 1, 3.