Question

Fill in the coefficients that will balance the following reaction:

(Note: Use 1 as coefficient where appropriate)

Fe(HCO3)3 + CaO → Fe2O3 + Ca(HCO3)2

Answer 1

2 Fe(HCO₃)₃ + 3 CaO ---> 1 Fe₂O₃ + 3 Ca(HCO₃)₂

Step-by-step explanation:

The unbalanced equation:

Fe(HCO₃)₃ + CaO ---> Fe₂O₃ + Ca(HCO₃)₂

Reactants: 1 iron, 3 hydrogen, 3 carbon, 10 oxygen, 1 calcium

Products: 2 iron, 2 hydrogen, 2 carbon, 9 oxygen, 1 calcium

As you can see, the reaction is clearly unbalanced because the number of each element on both sides is different. The best way to go about balancing an equation is by trying to first balance an element located in only one molecule on either side. For example, I started trying to balance iron. After balancing iron, I looked to balance other elements that would have been affected by the new coefficient (i.e., hydrogen, carbon).

The balanced equation:

2 Fe(HCO₃)₃ + 3 CaO ---> 1 Fe₂O₃ + 3 Ca(HCO₃)₂

Reactants: 2 iron, 6 hydrogen, 6 carbon, 21 oxygen, 3 calcium

Products: 2 iron, 6 hydrogen, 6 carbon, 21 oxygen, 3 calcium

Now, with these coefficients, the quantity of each element on both sides is the same.