Final answer:
To react with 4 moles of oxygen, one would need approximately 5.33 moles of iron, based on the iron to oxygen ratio of 4:3 given by the balanced chemical equation for the formation of iron (III) oxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how much iron (Fe) is needed to react with 4 moles of oxygen (O2), we first need to consider the stoichiometry of the reaction. The Empirical formula of iron oxide is Fe2O3. According to the stoichiometry of the reaction, 2 moles of iron react with 1.5 moles of oxygen, as represented in the balanced chemical equation for the formation of iron (III) oxide:
4 Fe + 3 O2 → 2 Fe2O3
When we have 4 moles of O2, we can apply the ratio from the chemical equation:
- (4 moles O2) x (4 moles Fe / 3 moles O2) = (16/3) moles Fe
So, we need (16/3) or approximately 5.33 moles of iron to fully react with 4 moles of oxygen.