Question

Iron (Fe) reacts

with oxygen gas (O2) to form rust (Fe2O3). Balance the equation below
by writing in the coefficients to ensure that the same number of each
kind of atom appears on both sides of the equation.

Answer 1

The balanced equation is given below:

4Fe + 3O2 —> 2Fe2O3

Step-by-step explanation:

Fe + O2 —> Fe2O3

The above equation can be balance by doing the following:

Fe + O2 —> Fe2O3

There are 2 atoms of O on the left side and 3 atoms on the right side. It can be balance by putting 3 in front of O2 and 2 in front of Fe2O3 as shown below:

Fe + 3O2 —> 2Fe2O3

There are 4 atoms of Fe on the right side and 1 atom on the left side. It can be balance by putting 4 in front of Fe as follow:

4Fe + 3O2 —> 2Fe2O3

Thus, the equation is balanced