Question

Balance FeCl3 + MgO ---> Fe2O3 + MgCl2

Answer 1

Answer: The balanced equation is
`2FeCl_(3) + 3MgO \rightarrow Fe_(2)O_(3) + 3MgCl_(2)`

Step-by-step explanation:

The given reaction equation is as follows.

`FeCl_(3) + MgO \rightarrow Fe_(2)O_(3) + MgCl_(2)`

Here, number of atoms present on reactant side are as follows.

• Fe = 1
• Cl = 3
• Mg = 1
• O = 1

Number of atoms on product side are as follows.

• Fe = 2
• Cl = 2
• Mg = 1
• O = 3

To balance this equation, multiply
`FeCl_(3)` by 2 and MgO by 3 on reactant side. Also, multiply
`MgCl_(2)` by 3 on product side. Therefore, the equation can be rewritten as follows.

`2FeCl_(3) + 3MgO \rightarrow Fe_(2)O_(3) + 3MgCl_(2)`

Hence, number of atoms on reactant side are as follows.

• Fe = 2
• Cl = 6
• Mg = 3
• O = 3

Number of atoms on product side are as follows.

• Fe = 2
• Cl = 6
• Mg = 3
• O = 3

Since, this equation contains same number of atoms on both reactant and product side. Therefore, this equation is now balanced equation.

Thus, we can conclude that the balanced equation is
`2FeCl_(3) + 3MgO \rightarrow Fe_(2)O_(3) + 3MgCl_(2)`.