Balance the following equations;
b) Fe3O4(s) + H2(g) ---->
Fe(s) + H2O(l)
Answer
Fe3O4(s) + H2(g)
----> Fe(s) + H2O(l)
Since hydrogen and iron are elements we will
balance them last, so only oxygen remains. How many oxygens on
the left? I count 4. On the right? I count 1. To balance the
oxygen atoms we place the coefficient 4 before water.
Fe3O4(s)
+ H2(g) ----> Fe(s) + 4H2O(l)
Now we can balance the iron and the hydrogen.
There are 3 iron atoms on the right and 1 on the left. We need a
coefficient of 3 for the iron on the right. Using the same logic
for hydrogen we need a coefficient of 4 for hydrogen.
Fe3O4(s)
+ 4H2(g) ----> 3Fe(s)
+ 4H2O(l)
The equation is balanced.