Chemical equations and balancing
Chemical Reactions (School Level) · Chemistry
Study notes
Balance: Fe + O₂ → Fe₂O₃. Step 1: Count atoms. Left: 1 Fe, 2 O. Right: 2 Fe, 3 O. Step 2: Balance Fe first: put 2 before Fe → 2Fe + O₂ → Fe₂O₃. Now Fe: 2 = 2 ✓. Step 3: Balance O: left has 2, right has 3. LCM of 2 and 3 is 6. Put 3 before O₂ and 2 before Fe₂O₃: 2Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃. O: 6 = 6 ✓ but Fe broke (2 vs 4). Step 4: Fix Fe: 4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃. Fe: 4 = 4 ✓, O: 6 = 6 ✓. Balanced!