select the correct answer. iron reacts with atmospheric oxygen to form iron oxide or ferric oxide. look at…

select the correct answer. iron reacts with atmospheric oxygen to form iron oxide or ferric oxide. look at the chemical equation for this reaction: fe + o₂ → fe₂o₃ this equation is unbalanced. which of the following is the correct balanced equation for this reaction? a. 4fe + 3o₂ → 2fe₂o₃ b. 3fe + 4o₂ → 2fe₂o₃ c. 2fe + 4o₂ → 3fe₂o₃ d. 3fe + 3o₂ → 4fe₂o₃ e. 4fe + 4o₂ → 3fe₂o₃
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Balance iron atoms
On the right - hand side of the unbalanced equation $Fe + O_2\rightarrow Fe_2O_3$, there are 2 iron atoms in $Fe_2O_3$. To balance iron, we need 4 iron atoms on the left - hand side. So we start with $4Fe+O_2\rightarrow Fe_2O_3$.
Step2: Balance oxygen atoms
In $Fe_2O_3$, there are 3 oxygen atoms. On the left - hand side, we have $O_2$. To balance the oxygen atoms, since we have 6 oxygen atoms in $2Fe_2O_3$, we need 3 $O_2$ molecules on the left - hand side. So the balanced equation is $4Fe + 3O_2\rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3$.
Answer:
A. $4Fe + 3O_2\rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3$