The dark tarnish that forms on iron pyrite (FeS2) is iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3). Tarnish can be removed by creating a reaction with oxygen (O2). The reaction forms iron(III) oxide and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
The chemical equation for the reaction is shown: [FeS2 + O2 →Fe2O3 + SO2]
This equation needs to be balanced by adding coefficients in front of the chemical formulas. A partially balanced equation is shown: [2FeS2 + 11O2 →? Fe2O3 + 4SO2]
Which coefficient should be added in front of Fe2O3 to balance the equation?
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The correct answer is: 2
To balance the equation, we need to ensure the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides. We have 4 Fe atoms on the left (2FeS2), so we need 4 Fe atoms on the right. Fe2O3 contains 2 Fe atoms, so we need a coefficient of 2 to get 4 Fe atoms. This also balances the oxygen atoms: 11O2 (22 O atoms) on the left, and 2Fe2O3 + 4SO2 (6 + 16 = 22 O atoms) on the right.
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