IIT JEE , AIEEE Forum - Chemistry , Physical Chemistry

srujana

Chemical equations should be 'balanced' so as to make them 'chemically meaningful'

The equation you gave is an It is an unbalanced one.

$eq=Fe + H_2O\ \rightarrow Fe_3O_4 + H_2$

i.e, it doesn't follow the law of conservation of mass.

Hence we need to balance it.

Balancing the no. of oxygen atoms

$eq=Fe + 4H_2O\ \rightarrow Fe_3O_4 + H_2$

Balancing the no. of hydrogen atoms

$eq=Fe + 4H_2O\ \rightarrow Fe_3O_4 + 4H_2$

Balancing the no. of Fe atoms

$eq=3Fe + 4H_2O\ \rightarrow Fe_3O_4 + 4H_2$

The balanced equation should be,

$eq=3Fe + 4H_2O\ \rightarrow Fe_3O_4 + 4H_2$

While balancing the subscript cant be changed.