Question #f633a

Question

1758 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-06-12T16:18:49

$Fe_2O_3 + 3 CO -> 2Fe + 3CO_2$

Forget what you have written above and start again. You made several mistakes in the second line of your equation, making it impossible to solve.

Most importantly: the molecules in the equation should not be taken apart as you did! So keep them clustered as in the equation you start with:

$...Fe_2O_3 +... CO -> ...Fe + ...CO_2$

From here it is a combination of common sense and trial and error:

Step 1 balance out the iron, leave the $Fe_2O_3$ as it is, because you have enough room to play around with the $C$ and $O$ on both sides:

$1 Fe_2O_3 +... CO -> 2 Fe + ...CO_2$

Step2 then try to get the number of $O$ on the left side to an even number. You have $3 * O$ on the left, need $3$ more to make it even:

$1 Fe_2O_3 +3 CO -> 2 Fe + ...CO_2$

Step3 now make the number of $C$ equal on both side:

$1 Fe_2O_3 + 3 CO -> 2Fe + 3CO_2$

Finally, check the equation and you'll see it is balanced now!