Question

Which of these is the correct word equation for the reaction, 4 Fe (s) + 3O2 (g) → 2FeO3 (s)?

Solid iron reacts with Iron (II) oxide to form oxygen gas.


Solid iron (II) oxide decomposes to form solid iron and oxygen gas.


Solid iron reacts with oxygen gas to form solid iron (II) oxide.


Oxygen gas reacts with iron (II) oxide to form solid iron.

Answer 1

The correct answer is
solid iron reacts with oxygen gas to form solid iron (III) oxide.
The state symbol (s) indicates that iron and iron oxide are in the solid state while the state symbol (g) indicates that oxygen gas is present in the gaseous state.
Moreover, the compound formed has iron (III) as the cation because two moles of iron (III) atoms bind with three moles of oxygen atoms.