Balance the chemical equation: Fe + H 2SO4 -------------> Fe2(SO4)3 + H2
Steps to Balance the above equation:
1. First write down the unbalanced equation Fe + H 2SO4 -------------> Fe2(SO4)3 + H2
2. In The above equation the sulphate(SO4 ) stays together , so
we can replace SO4 with X , We can rewrite the above equation as : Fe + H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2
3. Let us count the number of atoms on each side of the equation: Left hand side (L.H.S) Right hand side (R.H.S) Fe =1 Fe = 2 H =2 H =2
X =1 X=3
4. First let us look at Fe , we have 1 on L.H.S and 2 on R.H.S,
so multiply Fe by 2 on L.H.S
2Fe + H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2
5. Next let us look at X we have 1 on L.H.S and 3 on R.H.S
so multiply X by 3 on L.H.S 2Fe + 3H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + H2
6. Always try to keep H and O at the end to balance.
Now let us look at H , we have 6 on the L.H.S and 2 on the R.H.S
so multiply H by 3 on the R.H.S
2Fe + 3H 2X -------------> Fe2(X)3 + 3H2
7.Now the equation is balanced , so we can rewrite the whole equation by replacing X by SO4