How do you balance this equation Fe plus O2 ---- Fe2O3?

Answer 1

It might look like this: Fe2O3 + 3CO => 2Fe + 3CO2 The oxide of iron plus carbon monoxide yields iron and carbon dioxide. The key is that the carbon monoxide must "strip" all the oxygen from the iron oxide. Add as many CO molecules to the equation as needed to take up the oxygen from iron. We added the 3 in front of the CO to get 3CO. That results in the 3CO2 in the end product. We just need to add a 2 in front of the Fe to get 2Fe to balance the equation.

Answer 2

Here's an algebraic approach. Let me put the coefficients a, b, c and d in front of each of the four species in the original equation. These are the numbers that we want to balance the equation.

(a)Fe2O3 + (b)CO -> (c)Fe + (d)CO2

The number of oxygen atoms on the left must equal that on the right: 3a + b = 2d (1)

The number of iron atoms on the left must equal that on the right: 2a = c (2)

The number of carbon atoms on the left must equal that on the right: b = d (3)

I use (3) to eliminate b from (1), to get a = d/3. Then, I combine this with (2) to get c = 2d/3. In other words, I can choose a value for d and get values for the other coefficients in the equation. I set d=3 and get a=1, b=3 and c=2.

Fe2O3 + 3CO -> 2Fe + 3CO2

Incidentally you can Google for lots of advice about balancing chemical formulae on the web. I tried that but this equation was making me bananas so I did it this way.

Your choice!

Answer 3

Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g) = 2Fe(s) + 3CO2(g) where (s) = solid, (g) = gas

Answer 4

4Fe + 3O2 -----> 2Fe2O3 for fully oxidized Iron(III)Oxide.

See the related link for further help in balancing equations.

Answer 5

O does not exist by itself. The balanced equation would be 4Fe + 3O2 --> 2Fe2O3

Answer 6

4FeS + 7O2 = 2Fe2O3 + 4SO2

Answer 7

4 Fe + 3 O2 -------> 2 Fe2O3

Answer 8

4 Fe + 3 O2 = 2 Fe2O3