Answer:
1) 3 2) 2 3) 1 4) 3
Explanation:
so on the reactant side (left), there is 2 H, 1 CO3, and 1 Fe. On the product side (right) there is 2 Fe, 3 CO3, and 2 H2. So to start I added a 3 in the first blank to make CO3 equal on both sides. In doing this, there is not 2 H, there is now 6 so I added a 3 in the 4th blank. Currently, H and CO3 are equal on both sides but not Fe. So I added a 2 in the 2nd blank. I didn't add anything in the 3rd blank so it is an understood 1.
The balanced equation
3H₂CO₃ + 2Fe → Fe₂(CO₃)₃ + 3H₂
Given
Reaction
H₂CO₃ + Fe → Fe₂(CO₃)₃ + H₂
Required
Coefficient of the reaction
Solution
aH₂CO₃ + bFe → Fe₂(CO₃)₃ + cH₂
Prioritize balancing the elements that form the most complex compounds
Fe, left = b, right = 2⇒b=2
C, left = a, right = 3⇒a=3
H, left = 2a, right = 2c⇒2a=2c⇒2.3=2c⇒6=2c⇒c=3
The equation becomes :
3H₂CO₃ + 2Fe → Fe₂(CO₃)₃ + 3H₂
